The first report was that hundreds in the delta had died. But by the third day, estimates were that 40,000 people could be dead or missing, and perhaps one million might be left homeless.
Bodies were floating in rivers that were mixed with ocean water. There was little fresh water and little food. For unknown reasons, the government was refusing most offers of international aid.
The cyclone had hit the capital of Myanmar with winds of 120 mph. It was as powerful as Hurricane Katrina, which in 2005 destroyed much of New Orleans.
Katrina killed 1,800 people and left about 100,000 people homeless. Meteorologists watched the cyclone closely and warned the Myanmar government about it two days before the cyclone hit the country. But the Myanmar government failed to warn citizens to prepare for the dangerous storm.
"We were in our hotel," said an American tourist who was visiting the capital with his wife. "We could see the weather changing, but the locals didn't seem to be worried. When the wind smashed the windows in our hotel room, we started worrying. The wind blew the rain and tree branches and other debris into our room. We went into the bathroom and got into the tub.
We didn't feel safe in the bathroom, but where could we go? The wind howled and things banged around forever. We thought we were going to die for sure. When the storm finally passed, we looked outside. We couldn't believe the destruction. Mostly all we could see was just water."
There was no telling when power would be restored or when roads would be usable. The Myanmar government was doing nothing to help matters. "That's because they prefer that we all die," said an angry survivor.
✅ Vocabulary Words
| No. | Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | delta | a low-lying area of land formed where a river divides before entering a larger body of water (often prone to flooding) | Hundreds in the delta had died. |
| 02 | estimates were | the calculated approximations or guesses were | ...by the third day, estimates were that 40,000 people could be dead or missing... |
| 03 | left homeless | displaced from their homes, having no shelter | ...and perhaps one million might be left homeless. |
| 04 | fresh water | clean, non-salty water, suitable for drinking and cooking | There was little fresh water and little food. |
| 05 | refusing most offers | rejecting the majority of proposals (of help) | ...the government was refusing most offers of international aid. |
| 06 | international aid | help, such as money, food, or medical supplies, provided by foreign countries or organizations | ...offers of international aid. |
| 07 | cyclone | a large-scale, powerful, and destructive storm (known as a hurricane or typhoon in other regions) | The cyclone had hit the capital of Myanmar with winds of 120 mph. |
| 08 | destroyed much of | caused widespread ruin and devastation to (a place) | ...which in 2005 destroyed much of New Orleans. |
| 09 | Meteorologists | scientists who study weather and weather forecasting | Meteorologists watched the cyclone closely. |
| 10 | warned the government | informed the ruling authority of the impending danger | ...and warned the Myanmar government about it two days before... |
| 11 | failed to warn citizens | did not notify the general public or population (of the danger) | ...government failed to warn citizens to prepare for the dangerous storm. |
| 12 | locals | the people who live in a particular place (native residents) | ...but the locals didn't seem to be worried. |
| 13 | wind smashed the windows | the powerful air movement broke the glass violently | When the wind smashed the windows in our hotel room... |
| 14 | debris | scattered fragments, typically wreckage from a disaster | The wind blew the rain and tree branches and other debris into our room. |
| 15 | got into the tub | climbed inside the bathtub (a common emergency shelter technique) | We went into the bathroom and got into the tub. |
| 16 | wind howled | the wind made a long, loud, mournful sound | The wind howled and things banged around forever. |
| 17 | destruction | the action or process of causing so much damage that something no longer exists or cannot be repaired | We couldn't believe the **destruction**. |
| 18 | power would be restored | electricity service would be switched back on | There was no telling when **power would be restored**. |
| 19 | roads would be usable | streets and highways could be traveled on (not blocked by debris or water) | ...or when **roads would be usable**. |
| 20 | angry survivor | a person who lived through the disaster and is now feeling strong displeasure (at the government's response) | "That's because they prefer that we all die," said an **angry survivor**. |
❓ Comprehension Questions & Answers
| No. | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | What were the final estimated casualties (dead or missing) after the third day? | **40,000 people** (dead or missing). |
| 02 | How many people were estimated to be left homeless? | **Perhaps one million**. |
| 03 | What were two immediate problems the survivors faced? | Bodies were **floating in the rivers** and there was **little fresh water** and **little food** (any two). |
| 04 | What was the government's unusual reaction to the global response? | It was **refusing most offers of international aid**. |
| 05 | How fast were the cyclone's winds? | **120 mph**. |
| 06 | What US storm was used as a comparison for the cyclone's power? | **Hurricane Katrina** (in 2005). |
| 07 | How long before the cyclone hit did the Myanmar government receive a warning? | **Two days** before. |
| 08 | What was the government's major failure regarding its own citizens? | It **failed to warn citizens** to prepare for the storm. |
| 09 | Where were the American tourists when the storm hit? | In their **hotel room** in the capital. |
| 10 | What was the reaction of the "locals" (citizens) *before* the storm hit? | They **didn't seem to be worried**. |
| 11 | Where did the tourists go for shelter, and why did they not feel safe there? | They went to the **bathroom** and **got into the tub**, but they still didn't feel safe because the wind **howled** and things **banged around forever**. |
| 12 | What sight overwhelmed the tourists when the storm passed? | The **destruction** and the fact that **all they could see was water**. |
| 13 | What two things was "no telling" when they would be restored? | When **power would be restored** and when **roads would be usable**. |
| 14 | What does the "angry survivor" suggest about the government's intentions? | They **prefer that we all die** (meaning the government is actively negligent or malicious). |
| 15 | What is the primary danger described by the floating bodies and mixed water? | The potential for **disease and lack of potable water**. |