Red Cross says cyclone aid boat sinks in Myanmar

BANGKOK - A boat carrying Red Cross aid supplies to survivors of Myanmar's cyclone sank on Sunday in the disaster zone after hitting a submerged tree trunk, but no one was injured, the organisation said.

"The crew steered to an island but the boat sank rapidly. All crew members, including four Myanmar Red Cross relief workers on board... managed to get to safety," it said in a statement.



The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the sinking was a major blow for the recovery effort in the aftermath of the May 3 cyclone which has left some 60,000 dead or missing.

"Apart from the delay in getting aid to people we may now have to re-evaluate how we transport that aid," said its disaster manager in Yangon, Michael Annear.

The boat, which was hired locally, was carrying 100 bags of rice, 5,000 litres of drinking water, 10,000 water purification tablets, jerry cans, stretchers, clothes, household goods, soap, rubber gloves and surgical masks.

It sank near the devastated Irrawaddy Delta town of Bogalay, one of the regions worst-hit by Cyclone Nargis.

"Local people in this remote area, the crew and Red Cross staff have managed to save some relief items and these will be transported by foot, bicycle and any other means to the nearest town to await onward shipment," it said. - AFP/ir/de