More than 100 people have tragically lost their lives in Myanmar due to severe flooding and mudslides triggered by the remnants of Typhoon Yagi. The ruling junta's spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, stated on Sunday that 113 deaths have been confirmed, with an additional 64 people still reported missing. However, local reports suggest that the actual death toll may be higher, underscoring the immense impact of this disaster on the country.

The powerful storm, Typhoon Yagi, which had already wreaked havoc across Vietnam, Laos, Hainan Island in China, and the Philippines, hit Myanmar as Asia's most potent storm this year. Even after being downgraded to a tropical depression, it continued to cause deadly landslides in Southeast Asia. Prior to reaching Myanmar, the typhoon was responsible for claiming the lives of at least 287 people.

As a result of the catastrophic flooding and landslides, more than 320,000 individuals have been compelled to evacuate to temporary shelters, according to the AFP news agency. Myanmar authorities reported that as of Friday evening, nearly 66,000 houses, 375 schools, and a monastery had been destroyed. Vast stretches of roads and infrastructure have been washed away, further exacerbating the damage caused by the calamity.

The hardest-hit areas have been the Kayah, Kayin, Mandalay, Mon, and Shan states, which are situated in the central region of Myanmar. According to state media, 236,000 people were being accommodated in 187 relief camps as of Friday. However, many reports indicate that the number of deaths could be significantly higher than the official estimates.

Radio Free Asia reported that at least 160 people had already lost their lives in Myanmar, while social media accounts affiliated with the ruling junta suggested that 230 people had died in the Mandalay region alone. Japan's state broadcaster, NHK, also reported over 120 fatalities as of Saturday. One town in the Shan state, Kalaw, recorded at least 12 deaths, including that of an eight-year-old child.

Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing scenes of devastation caused by the floodwaters. One man described his attempts to rescue trapped families, with floodwaters reaching a height of 4 meters (15 feet) in the town of Kalaw. Reports emerged of 40 bodies being found in a local hospital, further highlighting the magnitude of the tragedy.

Myanmar, already grappling with a three-year civil war since a military junta seized power in 2021, has now been further burdened by this natural disaster. The United Nations estimates that thousands have lost their lives, and 2.6 million individuals have been displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict. The Shan state, where Kalaw is located, is also home to various armed insurgent groups with de facto control over certain areas.

Emergency and health workers have been deployed to the affected regions, as confirmed by Myanmar's information ministry. The government has allocated funds for providing food and drinking water to the evacuees. State media reports that efforts are underway to repair damaged roads and bridges. Typhoon Yagi is predicted to move away from Myanmar in the coming days, while another tropical depression is forecast to develop in the western Pacific in the upcoming week.

In light of the extensive flooding and damage, Myanmar's ruling junta has reached out for foreign aid, according to state-run media. The inundation of large areas has prompted the plea for international assistance as the country and its people strive to recover from this devastating natural disaster.