Asia-Pacific

Malaysian, Vietnamese vessels rescued in Myanmar waters

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-26 12:43

YANGON - Two vessels -- a Malaysian and a Vietnamese, hit by recent cyclone Giri, have been rescued by the Myanmar navy, the state-run daily New Light of Myanmar reported Tuesday.

The Malaysia-based fishing vessel YUHFA-9, which was located about 8 kilometers northwest of Rakhine coastal state's Kyaukphyu, was found broken on a rock on Saturday  by the Myanmar navy which was sent for search and rescue work after receiving SOS message earlier in the day.

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A total of 11 crew members on board the boat were rescued, the report said.

Another Vietnamese cargo ship, MV Phuchaingmon, which was located about 48 kilometers northeast of Kyaukphyu, was also found aground by the Myanmar navy with 26 crew members being rescued.

Severe cyclone Giri over the Bay of Bengal made a landfall on Friday afternoon at Myanmar's western Rakhine coast, sweeping violently Kyaukphyu and Gyuntharya at a speed of 120 km to 128 km per hour, triggering a tidal wave of as high as 3.6 meters.  

Nearby areas of Sittway, Myebon, Pauktaw, Ann, Yanbyae, Manaung, Ponnagyun and Min Bya townships were affected.

The storm, which crossed the central part of Myanmar earlier on Saturday, continued moving northeastwards at noon but abated into a small inland storm until its fade-out in Sagaing region's Butalin in the evening.

The cyclone Giri killed 27 people with 15 others missing. Altogether 6,231 houses, eight monasteries, 19 schools and 77 government office buildings as well as 80 vessels and two bridges were destroyed, according to official report.