Myanmar's military government raised its death toll from Cyclone Nargis on Tuesday to nearly 22,500 with another 41,000 missing, almost all from a massive storm surge that swept into the Irrawaddy delta. The United Nations' World Food Programme began doling out emergency rice in Yangon, the largest city and former capital, and the first batch of more than $10 million worth of foreign aid arrived from Thailand. But a lack of specialized equipment slowed distribution.

Myanmar, which is under heavy US sanctions, has so far refused an offer of help from a US disaster response team after a cyclone killed thousands of people at the weekend, the State Department said on Monday. The US Embassy in Myanmar issued a disaster declaration authorizing the immediate release of $250,000 in assistance after the cyclone hit the impoverished country, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

Myanmar said on Monday more than 10,000 people had been killed in the cyclone that tore into the impoverished and secretive Asian nation at the weekend, and tens of thousands more may also have died. Faced with the devastation, the foreign minister, Nyan Win, said his reclusive nation would welcome international aid, as neighbouring countries and the United Nations said they were ready to assist in the recovery.

Myanmar said Monday that more than 10,000 people had been killed in the cyclone that tore into the impoverished and secretive Asian nation at the weekend, and tens of thousands more may also have died. Faced with the devastation, Foreign Minister Nyan Win said his reclusive nation would welcome international aid, as neighbouring countries and the United Nations said they were ready to assist in the recovery.

India is sending two naval ships with relief and medical supplies to Myanmar where a severe cyclone claimed over 10,000 lives and rendered many more homeless. The ships carrying food items, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines will sail to Yangon from Port Blair, the external affairs ministry announced here. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee have sent messages of condolence, expressing their deep distress at the devastation caused by the natural disaster.

More than 10,000 persons have been killed in a tropical cyclone that struck Myanmar at the weekend, Foreign Minister Nyan Win told state television, adding that this nation would welcome international aid. "According to the latest information, more than 10,000 persons were killed,' Nyan Win said, after briefing foreign diplomats. "Information is still being collected, and there could be more casualties,' he added. Nyan Win also welcomed Thailand's promise to send emergency food and medicine, saying Myanmar would welcome international aid from other countries.

At least 351 people were killed and nearly 100,000 left homeless when tropical cyclone Nargis tore through Myanmar, razing thousands of buildings and knocking out power lines, state media said Sunday. Residents awoke Sunday to scenes of devastation after the cyclone bore through swathes of southern Myanmar late Friday and Saturday, uprooting trees, cutting phone lines and water pipes, and clogging streets with debris.

A devastating cyclone has killed 10,000 people and left 3,000 missing in army-ruled Myanmar according to provisional estimates, a diplomat said on Monday after a Myanmar government briefing on Saturday's storm. Here is a chronology of some major cyclones in Asia since 1960: Oct. 30, 1960 - BANGLADESH - About 10,000 people are killed after a cyclone packing winds of 210 km per hour (131 mph) hits Bangladesh at night. May 9, 1961 - BANGLADESH - About 12,500 people are killed in a cyclone with top wind speed of 161 kph (101 mph).

More than 350 persons died in Myanmar after a powerful cyclone

A cyclone killed more than 350 people in military-ruled Myanmar, ripping through Yangon and the Irrawaddy delta where it flattened at least two towns, officials and state media said on Sunday. The death toll is likely to climb as the authorities manage to contact outlying islands and villages that felt the full force of Cyclone Nagris, a Category 3 storm packing winds of 190 km (120 miles) per hour when it hit early on Saturday.