Severe cyclonic storm Mocha moved north-northeastward after entering the inland area near Matupi of Chin State and then degraded to a cyclonic storm. It is now moving to the north-northeastward near Katha of upper Sagaing Region, according to the cyclonic storm warning of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology at 7 am yesterday.
Relief teams must be sent to the storm-affected areas to carry out rescue and relief tasks as well as rehabilitation, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the natural disaster management emergency meeting at the hall of the Commander-in-Chief yesterday morning.
Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Kyaw Swa Lin reported on the need for corrugated iron sheets and electricity in storm-affected areas, rescue process of emergency rescue teams and preparations to send more rescue teams, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung on impacts of the storm, raining, loss and damage in Rakhine State, efforts for there being no ending disconnection in towns and villages along the route of the storm in accord with the guidance of the Senior General, preparedness of Tatmadaw, departmental personnel and people, and overcoming the problems with least casualties.
In his speech, the Senior General stressed that the military engineer corps needs to transport corrugated iron sheets and construction materials to storm-affected areas in Rakhine State as quickly as possible by aircraft, naval vessels and vehicles. Military engineers must be sent to the affected areas to repair power lines. The Senior General pointed out that it is necessary to keep foodstuffs and personal goods for the storm-hit areas in the tents to prevent loss and damage.
Union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister and senior military officers clarified preparations to soonest send reserve rice to the storm-hit areas, the readiness of Tatmadaw aircraft and helicopter, efforts to soonest send instant noodles, purified drinking water, foodstuffs, relief supplies, personal goods, CI sheets and nails in time, repairing of communication lines in Rakhine State, sending of medic teams to storm-affected areas for providing healthcare services, loss and damage at some pagodas in Bagan ancient cultural region, needs to purify water not to cause dysentery in the affected areas, and releasing information on storm and loss and damage in the storm.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General said that as storm warnings were released in time, the country overcame the challenges of the storm with the least casualties. Relief teams must be sent to the storm-affected areas to carry out rescue and relief tasks as well as rehabilitation. Moreover, foodstuffs, purified drinking water, personal goods and construction materials must be transported to the affected areas as quickly as possible. Communication networks must be repaired. Officials need to release follow-up news on the situation of the storm. The Senior General stressed the need to maintain the damaged ancient pagodas in the Bagan ancient cultural zone.—MNA/TTA
