The death toll has risen to at least 50 and thousands of people have been rendered homeless after Cyclone Giri lashed the Arakan coast on 22 October, many sources said.

U Ba Shin, a social activist in Kyauk Pru, said, "Eight bodies were found on Sunday in Pyin Wan Village alone, and 30 people from the village are still missing. Everyone estimates the death toll has risen to 50."

Pyin Wan Village is located on Kuyunt Tha Ya Island in Mray Bone Township, 120 miles southeast of Arakan State's capital Sittwe.

Another source said that the death toll has mounted to at least 50 following the recovery of more bodies on Sunday on Kyaut Tha Ya Island, after many houses were destroyed by the tidal surge during the cyclone.

The worst affected areas in Arakan are Mray Bone and Kyauk Pru, where local people report many bodies being found.

"The situation here is alarming, and the confirmed death toll so far in the area is 50, but it may go up," U Ba Shin told Narinjara over telephone.

Over 5,000 people are now taking temporary shelter at schools and monasteries in Kyauk Pru after fleeing their homes to escape the tidal waves churned up by the storm with wind speeds over 100 miles an hour.

"Authorities in our town are preparing to distribute relief to the cyclone victims but there has been nothing until Sunday evening. Now local residents are donating food to the victims after collecting food among themselves. However, rice and drinking water is in short supply in the town and there is not enough to meet the needs of the cyclone victims," U Ba Shin said.

About 1,800 people in three wards - Sar Byinn, Zay Di Daung, and Kyin Ka Maw - in Kyauk Pru have become marooned by the flood waters or are living in shelters.

According to a source, 700 houses from Late Ka Maw Villages in northern Kyauk Pru were damaged and many people were left homeless. A UN based NGO is now arriving in Kyauk Pru to construct huts on the Kyauk Pru sports ground for the victims to take shelter in, but many other NGOs are still awaiting permission from the authorities to enter the area and distribute relief.