YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s foreign minister says the death toll from tropical cyclone Nargis could reach 10,000.
Foreign diplomats said Nyan Win made the comment Monday at a briefing for them and representatives of UN and international aid agencies.
Earlier, state radio reported that the official death toll from Saturday’s cyclone had risen to nearly 4,000, with 3,000 others missing in just one badly hit town.
The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was held behind closed doors, said the foreign minister acknowledged 59 deaths in Yangon, the country’s biggest city.
Reports from the countryside were sketchy due to impassable roads and poor communications.
