Burma battered by tropical storm

A tropical cyclone has hit the Irrawaddy Delta region of Burma.

Cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy Delta region with winds of about 190km/h (120mph) late on Friday.

Reports from Rangoon say there's extensive damage there; trees and powerlines are down, and the roofs torn off a number of buildings.

But details so far have been limited because telephone and internet connections to Burma have been badly disrupted.


Nargis hit the Delta region with winds of about 120mph

"Everything was wrecked. The roofs of houses and satellite dishes were blown away," one resident told the BBC's Burmese service.

"The satellite dishes on the roof of the UNDP office were also blown away. Everything is in a mess."

Three people are reported to have been killed in the early stages of the storm but there are no details of further casualties.

State TV and radio stations have been off air in Rangoon, but viewers elsewhere in Burma say the government has declared a state of emergency in five places.

The official MRTV says two ships and small boats had sunk on the Rangoon river.