Myanmar state television says cyclone death toll nears 78,000

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
State television reports the official death toll from Myanmar's devastating cyclone earlier this month has climbed to 77,738. The figure was broadcast Friday night. It was nearly double the figure released a day earlier by the military government. The official count for the missing also soared to 55,917 - from a figure of 27,838 that had been announced for the past few days. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimated Wednesday that the total death toll may be as many as 128,000. The UN has said more than 100,000 may have died.