Myanmar’s death toll from recent flooding rose to 74 as of Friday evening, state media reported on Sunday. The heavy rains, brought on by Typhoon Yagi, have led to widespread flooding in the already conflict-stricken country. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with at least 89 people still missing.

Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, has caused significant devastation in the region. Hundreds have died in Vietnam and Thailand, where floodwaters have overflowed rivers and inundated cities. In Myanmar, the flooding began last Monday, claiming 19 lives by Friday morning.

The country has been in a state of turmoil since a military coup in February 2021, with widespread violence affecting many regions. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the storm's rains have mostly affected the capital Naypyidaw, as well as Mandalay, Magway, Bago, and parts of Shan, Mon, Kayah, and Kayin states. OCHA noted that central Myanmar is the hardest hit, with rivers and creeks from the Shan hills flooding large areas.

Reports of additional deaths and landslides continue to emerge, but damaged infrastructure and downed communication lines have made information gathering difficult. State media reported that the floods have destroyed five dams, four pagodas, and over 65,000 houses.

Currently, around one-third of Myanmar's 55 million population is in need of humanitarian assistance. However, many aid agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, face challenges in operating due to access restrictions and security risks.

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