Cyclone Mocha: The number of casualties recorded varies between military rulers and the NUG

The recorded casualties because of cyclone Mocha that crossed Rakhine State on 14  May vary for the military rulers and the National Unity Government (NUG).

Media outlets, run by the military council, reported on 18 May that 47 local residents died during the storm. Some security personnel also died in the rescue operations after the disaster.

On the other hand, while releasing the storm damage reports on 18 May, the NUG claimed that 455 people died across the entire country due to the cyclonic storm.

According to the NUG's list, 431 people died in Rakhine State itself. At least 15 people died in Magwe division,  four in Sagaing division, two  in Shan State and one each in Irrawaddy, Mandalay and Yangon divisions.

Till date, the ULA/AA has not revealed the number of dead in the storm.

The  communication network is not working in various parts of Rakhine State and it remains a  difficult job  to authenticate the numbers as the telephone and internet services have gone out of order.

"The death toll because of Mocha must be over 100. The military government always hides the facts. Thus they want to hide their irresponsibility," said a Rakhine social worker, adding that the true picture will emerge after the communication network is restored.

Observers pointed out that the Arakan Army evacuated the families from the areas under its control and hence a lower number of dead was reported, but there are more casualties in those areas under the control of militaries as they did not take appropriate actions in advance to the disaster.