Image of AFP/Getty Images Thousands were killed when cyclone Nargis tore through Burma AFP/Getty Images People walk down a flooded street in Burma's largest city Yangon AFP/Getty Images Cyclone Nargis uprooted trees and downed power lines in Yangon
State media reported that 19 people died in the former capital Rangoon, 109 in Haing Gyi island, and 222 in the Irrawaddy Delta region, where the 120mph storm came ashore. A state of emergency has been declared in five regions and the death toll is expected to rise further.
Reports said that 70 per cent of homes were destroyed in two towns on the delta, a densely populated and low lying coastal area which produces much of the impoverished country’s rice. On Haing Gyi island, just off the coast, 92,000 people are reported to be homeless.
Meteorologists had predicted that cyclone Nargis would produce a 12-foot storm surge when it came ashore.
Electricity and telephone services have been completely knocked out, roads are blocked and Rangoon airport is closed, largely cutting the country off from the outside world just days before a referendum on a contentious new constitution written by the junta.
There was speculation that, with infrastructure crippled and the population struggling to provide for their basic needs, the vote may have to be postponed.
A diplomat in Rangoon, a dilapidated city of five million people, described the scene in an email to Reuters. “Utter war zone,” he wrote. “Trees across all streets. Utility poles down. Hospitals devastated. Clean water scarce.”
A United Nations official in the city added: “It’s a bad situation. Almost all the houses are smashed. People are in a terrible situation.” In Rangoon harbour four ships reportedly sank.
The Information Ministry said the prime minister and other officials were heading to Rangoon from the regime’s isolated capital, Naypidaw, to lead the relief operation. But there was criticism of the government’s response.
“Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians?” asked a Rangoon resident, who refused to be identified. “They should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity.”
The disaster comes at a particularly sensitive time in Burma, as the regime prepares to push its unpopular new constitution through a referendum on Saturday. Analysts say the supposedly democratic constitution will leave most power in the hands of the army.
Nevertheless, the generals’ decision to risk a popular vote at all is seen as a sign of weakness following last year’s anti-regime protests led by Buddhist monks.
One of the principal causes of those protests was a dramatic increase in fuel prices.
The damage caused by the storm to property, infrastructure and especially crops could have political ramifications if food prices rise dramatically.
351 people have been reported dead after a cyclone hit Burma, which is also known as Myanmar. As a result it has been declared by the Burmese government that five states are currently disaster areas.

A photograph of the cyclone
A diplomat in the area spoke to the ''Reuters'' news agency, giving them a description of the scene. He said that the area around him looked like a 'war zone' as a result of the cyclone.

An official from the United Nations also commented on the situation. "It’s a bad situation. Almost all the houses are smashed. People are in a terrible situation,” he said.

Another UN representative also spoke on the incident. He reported that "The Irrawaddy delta was hit extremely hard not only because of the wind and rain but because of the storm surge."

''The Daily Telegraph '', a UK newspaper, reported that the food price in Burma could be affected by this incident.