Myanmar death toll surges to 78,000

YANGON, Myanmar – The official death toll nearly doubled to 78,000 from Myanmar’s killer cyclone as heavy rains on Friday lashed much of the area stricken two weeks ago, further hampering relief efforts.

Aid workers shackled by the country’s military regime struggled to get even the most basic data about the needs of up to 2.5 million survivors. The Red Cross warned that a lack of clean water may multiply the ranks of the dead.

Myanmar state television said the official death count from the May 3 cyclone was 77,738, with 55,917 others missing.

The toll was nearly double the 43,000 previously reported, but the TV announcement suggested it might be close to a final figure. It said the government had “carried out search and rescue and relief work and collection of data, promptly, immediately and extensively.”

The release of the figures led to dire warnings from the United Nations and renewed calls for the military regime to allow international aid workers access to devastated areas.

“More than two weeks after the event, we are at a critical point,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “Unless more aid gets into the country – quickly – we face the risk of an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dramatically worsen today’s crisis.”

Jean-Maurice Ripert, France’s ambassador to the U.N., criticized the junta for refusing to allow a French navy ship to deliver 1,500 tons of food, drugs and medication to the Irrawaddy delta using small boats.

He said refusing to allow aid to be delivered to those in need “could lead to a true crime against humanity if we go on like that.”