YANGON: The death toll from a powerful weekend cyclone that battered Myanmar rose above 22,000 with 41,000 still missing yesterday, state radio reported, as the international community prepared to rush in aid.

The radio service said 22,464 people have been confirmed dead from Cyclone Nargis, which tore through the country's rice bowl and biggest city of Yangon early on Saturday.

It said more than 41,000 were still missing, raising fears the death toll would soar.

The government has appealed for urgent foreign aid.

"Instead of waiting for figures on casualties and damage, it will be practical to send humanitarian aid to victims as soon as possible," Relief and Resettlement Minister Major General Maung Maung Swe told a news conference yesterday.

China has decided to offer $1 million in aid to help with its disaster relief efforts.

The aid is scheduled to begin arriving in Yangon today, according to a statement on the website of the Ministry of Commerce. The initial materials include tents, bedding and biscuits.

"China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors. We will continue to pay close attention to the relief work in Myanmar and provide assistance," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference yesterday.

He expressed the belief that Myanmar's government and people will overcome the losses caused by the disaster and resume normal life as soon as possible.

President Hu Jintao on Monday sent a message of sympathy to Myanmar's top leader Senior-General Than Shwe in the wake of the cyclone.

As a friendly neighbor, China will provide help and aid to Myanmar's reconstruction efforts, Hu told Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council.

Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday also sent a message of sympathy to his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein.

A Thai military transport plane flew from Bangkok to Yangon yesterday with emergency aid while a number of other countries and organizations said they were prepared to follow.

Xinhua - Agencies

(China Daily 05/07/2008 page1)