A total of 62 people across Myanmar were killed last month by natural disasters and other accidents, according to the Fire Services Department.
In May, the department recorded 224 such disasters and accidents, including landslides, windstorms, floods, electrocutions, drownings, car accidents, and sinking ships.
The highest number of disasters was in 36 in Magway Region, followed by 33 in Sagaing Region, 30 in Mandalay Region, 22 in Yangon Region, 18 in Ayeyawady Region, 11 in Naypyidaw, eight each in Kachin State and Shan State, seven each in Mon State and Rakhine State, five in Chin State, three each in Kayin State and Taninthayi Region, two in Kayah State.
Around 3,700 homes were also destroyed last month by natural disasters and accidents, and 260 people were injured.
According to Eleven, current government has raised the number of rescue workers from 7,200 to 13,627 in order to better prepare for future disasters.
On World Red Cross Day last month, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported that disasters killed 140,000 people in Myanmar between 2006 and 2015.
President U Htin Kyaw said at the ceremony that Myanmar has an exceptionally high death rate from disasters and said his government would do more to prevent future deaths and property damage.
While the Fire Services Department’s record of death from disasters offers a useful way of measuring Myanmar’s disaster preparedness, it is worth pointing out that the department also includes suicides in the same category, though it is not clear how many of the 62 deaths last month this accounts for.
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