Cyclone Hammers Burmese Commercial Capital

May 3, 2008 7:26 a.m. EST

Rangoon, Burma (AHN) - Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit the Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon early on Saturday, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and knocking out electricity.

Serious casualties were expected after the cyclone hammered Burma's commercial capital at about 5 a.m. (local time) (2200 GMT), an official from the country's meteorology department told the Associated Press.

In several places, roofs were ripped off houses and electricity poles were uprooted, Mizzima News, a pro democratic Burmese news agency, reported.

Trees near Han Thar Wa Di circle in the commercial city were uprooted and left lying on the streets. Sign boards were also destroyed, according to reports.

Due to cyclone, there have been heavy rains and strong winds in Pha An in Karen State of Burma, officially known as Myanmar. "People dare not to go out on the streets", a resident told the Mizzima news.

On Friday morning, Nargis lashed Haing Gyi Island, the coastal region of the country's southwestern Ayeyawaddy division.

The cyclone's speed was once as high as up to 119 miles (192 kilometers) per hour, while it was 74 miles (120 kilometers) per hour as it swept across some main regions such as Pathein, Myaungmya, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Kyongmange, Bogalay, Chaungtha, Ngwesaung, Tharyawaddy and Gwa, Xinhua reported quoting the State Meteorology Department.