Jun 17, 2008 (DVB), Homes and shelters in villages in Labutta township, Irrawaddy division, and Dike Oo township in Bago division were destroyed when a whirlwind hit the area yesterday, locals said.

Lay Seik, Taungale and Kyaw Maw villages in Labutta township were hit yesterday evening.

A Labutta resident said almost all of the small huts and tarpaulin tens in Lay Seik were destroyed by the whirlwind.

"Almost all the houses were destroyed in Lay Seik village and six houses in Kyaw Maw village," the resident said.

"We couldn’t confirm the amount of destruction in Taungale."

Irrawaddy residents had been warned by the government that strong winds could hit the area on Monday.

In Bago division, Pagan Kwe, Thayetgone, Thein Seik and two other villages were damaged by a whirlwind in Dike Oo township yesterday morning, according to a Dike Oo resident who was in Pagan Kwe village.

Ten houses were destroyed in Thein Seik village, while four collapsed in Pagan Kwe.

The local said no casualties had yet been reported.

Reporting by Aye Nai and Naw Say Phaw