Burmese state media reported Friday that 57 people have been killed in floods and landslides caused by heavy rains this week.
The reports say floods and mudslides washed away homes and damaged schools and bridges in northwestern Rakhine state. More than 2,000 people were forced to flee. The official newspaper Light of Myanmar says the floods were receding Friday and rescue operations are underway.
The United Nations aid agency (UNHCR) is using speedboats to rescue people stranded by the floods. Aid officials said eight boats were sent help 50 patients and 20 staff trapped in a hospital and more than 100 children stuck in their homes in Rakhine state.
In China, the official Xinhua news agency reports the death toll from floods in several southern provinces reached 69 Friday. Xinhua says 44 other people have been missing since heavy downpours started Sunday. It says half a million people have been uprooted from their homes.
Chinese officials say economic losses from rains have amounted to about $950 million.
