BEIJING, China -- A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Friday that a devastating earthquake in southwest China destroyed or heavily damaged 436,000 properties leading to 4.8 million homeless, according to official figures. At a news conference in the U.S. capital, Wang Baodong said the disaster had led to 500 deaths outside Sichuan province, the hardest-hit area. The official death toll now stands at 22,000, with 14,000 still buried. Source cnn.com May 16, '08

Almost five million people have been left homeless by Monday's devastating earthquake in China's south-western Sichuan Province, officials say. They said the extent of the problem only became clear when communications were restored. So far, 22,069 deaths have been confirmed and thousands remain missing. It is feared up to 50,000 may be dead. Source bbc.co.uk May 16, '08

WASHINGTON -- After concerns that Myanmar authorities improperly took some previous relief supplies, Myanmar is now allowing U.S. government aid workers to give aid directly to private aid groups. Source cnn.com May 16, '08

The scale of the suffering prompted by the cyclone in Burma is huge. bbc.co.uk May 16, '08

Increased amounts of aid have started to reach cyclone-stricken Burma amid signs the government is easing restrictions on foreign access. The World Food Programme distributed 38 tonnes of previously held-up aid, but warned much more had to get through. And in a major setback for the aid effort, a Red Cross boat carrying aid sank in the Irrawaddy Delta. Source bbc.co.uk May 11, '08

PICHER, Oklahoma -- At least 20 people were killed as tornadoes and severe weather swept the Midwest before rumbling into the Southeast on Sunday morning, according to emergency management agencies. Source cnn.com May 11, '08

At least 44 people were killed and more than 140 wounded since the fighting broke out Thursday, Lebanon's Internal Security Forces said Sunday. The figure does not include casualties from Sunday's battles. Source cnn.com May 11, '08

YANGON, Myanmar Formarly known as Burma -- The death toll from the cyclone that ravaged the Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar may exceed 100,000, the senior U.S. diplomat in the military-ruled country said Wednesday. Source cnn.com May 07, '08

Fears of 'rising' Burma toll
Diplomats in Burma have warned that the number of people who lost their lives in the cyclone could be as high as 100,000. Source bbc.co.uk May 07, '08