On the evening of 21 April 2023, a large and highly rare stovepipe tornado struck Lewe Township within the Naypyidaw Union Territory of Myanmar. The strong and destructive tornado resulted in significant casualties, killing eight people and destroying over 200 homes across two central villages. The disaster led to eight documented fatalities and left over 128 people injured, making it one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadic events recorded in modern Burmese history.
Background Major tornadoes are exceptionally rare in Myanmar, with severe tornadic activity typically restricted to brief, weak events during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon transitional periods. In April 2023, mainland Southeast Asia experienced record-breaking, intense heatwaves that causes tornado. The extreme surface temperatures, combined with sudden localized atmospheric instability, created a highly volatile environment capable of producing severe convective storms and severe tornadogenesis in the flat terrain of the central plains near Naypyidaw.
The tornado hit Aung Myin Kone and Tada U villages on Naypyitaw's southern outskirts at around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, Thet Paing Soe, a leading member of the Doh Lewe charity organization, told The Associated Press.
Impact and damage
The strong stovepipe tornado touched down at approximately 6:10 p.m. local time and remained on the ground for an estimated 40 minutes, sweeping directly through the southern outskirts of Lewe Township. The tornado impacted Aung Myin Kone () and Tada U () The storm destroyed a total 232 households. Because a majority of traditional domestic structures in the region were constructed primarily of wood, bamboo and corrugated tin roofing, they lacked the structural integrity to withstand violent tornadic winds. Beyond residential properties, the powerful tornado resulted in the destruction of several vital community structures, including a local public school, a rural healthcare clinic, and two historic Buddhist monasteries. Local rescue groups and charity organizations confirmed that 8 individuals were killed during the storm's passage. An additional 109 individuals sustained injuries and required transport to regional medical facilities.
This tornado was on the ground for total of 4.7 km and reached a peak width of 528 yards.
Aftermath Following the storm's dissipation, search and rescue operations were launched by the Myanmar Fire Services Department, local police units and emergency charity organizations. Heavy clearance equipment was deployed to remove debris from blocked transit routes to allow emergency vehicles passage.
The injured people were evacuated to nearby medical centers, including the Lewe General Hospital and the 1,000-bed General Hospital in Naypyidaw; however, two people were died later on hospital 20 hours later after tornado, causing two additional deaths. State officials visited the impacted sites the following morning to coordinate aid distribution and structural reconstruction plans. Temporary displacement camps and emergency supply distribution centers were established at uninjured local monasteries to provide food, clean water and shelter to the displaced residents from the tornado.
128 people were taken to hospital after villages on Naypyidaw’s southern outskirts were hit on Friday evening and 232 homes destroyed.
The Chairman of the State Administration Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, urged to re-develop systematically for the housings that were destroyed in the strong wind and tornado happened in Lewe township, Naypyidaw.
See also Tornadoes of 2023
References
External links Myanmar International TV Broadcast Report on Lewe