Sittwe, Myanmar—A severe storm tore through a coastal settlement in Rakhine State on Wednesday, leaving three people dead and dozens homeless. The storm brought intense winds and a storm surge that quickly overwhelmed the fragile wooden homes near the shoreline. The local branch of the Red Cross Society led the emergency response efforts.

Rescue workers arrived as the winds began to subside to find the settlement largely leveled. The three victims were trapped under the debris of their own homes when the structures collapsed. Local volunteers worked throughout the afternoon to clear paths for aid trucks to enter the village.

Most of the residents lost their belongings and are currently seeking shelter in a nearby community center. The Red Cross is distributing emergency food rations, blankets, and clean water to the survivors. This settlement had been identified as vulnerable to weather events during the monsoon season.

The scale of the destruction is extensive, with power lines downed and roads blocked by mud. Local authorities are already discussing long-term plans to move the settlement to higher ground, though funding remains a significant hurdle. This storm is being described by locals as the strongest to hit the coast this year.

Disaster response teams are conducting an assessment of the damage to determine if any other areas along the coast were similarly affected. Communication in the region remains intermittent due to the storm damage. The focus for the next forty-eight hours is the immediate stabilization of the displaced families.

The Rakhine State government has pledged to provide temporary housing assistance. A team of engineers will be sent to inspect the structural safety of the surviving buildings in the district. The atmosphere in the community is somber as residents begin the long process of clearing the ruins.

The recovery effort is continuing, and patrols are being maintained to ensure the safety of those remaining in the settlement.

The investigation into the full impact of the storm is ongoing.