Death toll in Myanmar, Thai floods mounts to 75

Official media in Myanmar said 19 people had died in floods across the central and eastern parts of the country, especially Mandalay.

At least 75 people died when floods swept through Thailand and Myanmar last week, officials said on Monday, as waters in both countries continued to recede.

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In Thailand, 56 people have been killed while two others remain missing, the interior ministry's disaster management agency said in a statement.

At their peak last week, the floods had hit 46 of the country's 76 provinces.

By Monday, water levels had returned to normal in all but 16 provinces of central Thailand.

Initial estimates put the damage at 305 million baht (8.1 million dollars), the statement said.

In neighbouring Myanmar, official media said 19 people had died in floods across the central and eastern parts of the country.

All of the victims were in the region around the central city of Mandalay, where the floods wiped out part of the road leading to the airport.

The flooding began in late August due to heavy rain from Typhoon Xangsane.

Thai weather authorities say they expect unusually heavy seasonal rains to wreak havoc in central and northern Thailand until the end of October, before moving south.