Myanmar death toll could hit 10,000, foreign minister says

SantaBarbara May 5, 2008

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's foreign minister says the death toll from Tropical Cyclone Nargis could reach 10,000.

Foreign diplomats said Nyan Win made the comment at a Monday briefing given to them and representatives of U.N. 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.

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.

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