2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season tremendous, with 450,000 homes, 4,000 schools, and 75 percent of healthcare facilities destroyed and 350,000 homes severely damaged. With approximately 140,000 fatalities taking place in Myanmar, Nargis is regarded as the worst disaster in the country's history and ranks as the fourth-deadliest tropical cyclone on record. Damage from the storm amounted to 11.7 trillion Burmese kyat (US$12.9 billion), the majority of which occurred within the private sector. In the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, numerous members of the international community were prepared to provide Myanmar with aid. For several weeks, the State Peace and Development Council (Myanmar's military junta) insisted
Diamond Island (Myanmar) In recent years the loss of mangroves has reduced turtle nesting sites. Cyclone Nargis, 2–3 May 2008, also damaged turtle nests and nesting sites. In 1801 the British merchant ship "Mermaid" wrecked on a rock some miles from the island. On 7 November 1808 the East Indiaman did so also. A communications station, now closed, was established there. The station in 1908 was in radio contact with the Andaman Islands and had a telegraph connection to Bassein (now Pathein). During World War II, in January 1942 the river steamer evacuated the British radio operators on the island. On 6 March