YANGON, Myanmar — A cyclone killed more than 350 people and destroyed thousands of homes, state-run media said Sunday. Some dissident groups worried that the military junta running Myanmar would be reluctant to ask for international help.
Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit at a delicate time for the junta, less than a week ahead of a crucial referendum on a new constitution. Should the junta be seen as failing disaster victims, voters who already blame the regime for ruining the economy and squashing democracy could take out their frustrations at the ballot box.
Some in Yangon complained that the 400,000-strong military was doing little to help victims after Saturday’s storm.
“Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians?” said a trishaw driver who refused to be identified for fear of retribution. “They should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity.”
The storm’s 120 mph winds blew the roofs off hospitals and cut electricity to the country’s largest city.
The U.N. planned to send teams today to assess the damage, said said Chris Kaye, the U.N.’s acting humanitarian coordinator in Yangon.
