Red Cross Suggests Possible 128K Dead in Burma

The Red Cross says the death toll in Burma’s cyclone may be between 68,833 and 127,990.

The government revised its death toll Wednesday to 38,491 and the number of missing to 27,838. But the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the number of people killed is probably between 68,833 and 127,990.

The Red Cross said it arrived at the figure by pooling and extrapolating assessments by 22 other aid groups and organizations in 58 townships. The total affected population is estimated to be between 1.6 million and 2.5 million, it said.

U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes also reported the same number for the affected population. He said the death toll could be “in the region of 100,000 or even more.”

The report issued Wednesday noted that “official government casualty figures remain significantly lower.”

The government says 34,273 people were killed and 27,838 are missing in the May 2-3 Cyclone Nargis.

The Red Cross figure is the highest reported so far. The U.N. has said the number of dead could be between 60,000 and 100,000.

Source: USA Today.

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