Strong wind destroys some 800 houses in Myanmar's northwestern region

YANGON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Strong wind, coupled with torrential rain, has destroyed some 800 houses in two townships of Myanmar's Sagaing region, according to the Disaster Management Department Wednesday.

The two townships, struck by the disaster on Monday evening, are Pale and Kani townships, of which Kani was worst affected with 780 house being destroyed.

Some villages were battered by hailstones.

According to local authorities, a cargo ship sank in the Chindwin River near Medin village on Monday evening also due to the strong wind.