Burma cyclone claims over 60,000

May 7, 2008

Bodies are being tossed into to the rivers as the death toll from Burma's devastating cyclone has now risen to more than 22,000.

Another 41,000 are missing three days after Cyclone Nargis hit the country, causing a huge tidal surge to sweep inland, according to state radio.

The report came as aid agencies begin what they expect to be a major relief operation to help hundreds of thousands left without clean water and shelter.

Burma's government has been criticized over its handling of the crisis.

A number of Burmese nationals and some foreigners have said they had not been properly warned by the country's military leaders about the approaching storm.

Some witnesses have also said the government's response to the disaster has so far been slow and inadequate.

President Bush, no stranger to bungled disasters, has urged the military leadership to give access to American disaster assessment teams, saying his country was ready to use its navy "to help find the missing, to help stabilize the situation".