Airlines cancel flights due to cyclone
Several domestic airlines have been forced to re-route flights destined for Rangoon due to the cyclone, while other have canceled scheduled routes entirely.
Sources said flights to Rangoon originating from various towns, including Heho and Tachileik, have been re-routed to Mandalay following information on the cyclone's activities.
Additionally, companies in Rangoon's Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone sent employees home earlier than usual due to inclement weather conditions.
Update: 2 May 2008 18:00 - Burma Standard Time
Tide could rise to 12 feet due to cyclone
 According to observations of the Burmese Meteorology and Hydrology Department, at 14:30 Burmese Standard Time Cyclone Nargis was crossing over Higyi Island in Irrawaddy Division. At the time, the cyclone was still picking up speed and headed towards the east. Within 24 hours, the cyclone will have crossed Irrawaddy, Rangoon and Pegu Divisions, steering a course for Yun Yun in the east.
Officials at the Burmese Meteorology Office said that due to the high speed of the cyclone, communities in its path will be confronted with winds of 80 miles per hour accompanied by heavy rainfall. The tide level along delta and coastal areas could rise to 12 feet due to the cyclone.
The office, however, predicts that the cyclone's speed will likely decline throughout the day.
Update: 2 May 2008 16:50 - Burma Standard Time
Internet subject to frequent interference
Local residents say Internet connections in Burma have frequently failed in recent hours. Sources believe strong waves caused by Cyclone Nargis at the town of Phya Pone, where the Burmese Telecommunication Department has laid down underwater Internet cables, have apparently damaged connections. According to the Burmese Meteorology Department, ground winds in Irrawaddy Division have been clocked at 60 miles per hour.
Update: 2 May 2008 16:00 - Burma Standard Time
Kinethaungkyun village submerged
Kinethaungkyun village in Laputta Township of Irrawaddy Division is reportedly submerged under water due to the effects of Cyclone Nargis.
Kinethaungkyun village, located only one foot above sea level, also found itself under water following Cyclone Mala in 2006 and as a result of the December, 2004, tsunami.
Reports from locals suggest that rescue workers are yet to arrive on the scene.
Update: 2 May 2008 13:30 - Burma Standard Time
Nargis bypasses Bangladesh, heads toward Burma
Cyclone Nargis, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, has bypassed Bangladesh and is making for Burma, an AFP report said, citing the Bangladeshi Meteorologist Department.
A similar cyclone named Sidr hit Bangladesh in November 2007, causing heavy damage and killing nearly 3,000 people.
Ayesha Khatun of the Bangladeshi Meteorology Office said, "It is not going to hit Bangladesh. It will hit Myanmar later today, although the southern tip of Bangladesh could be affected."
The Meteorology Office, which correctly predicted the path of Sidr, said it will continue monitoring Nargis' movement.
Bangladeshi authorities have alerted fishing boats and fishermen not to venture into the Bay of Bengal.
Update: 2 May 2008 13:30 - Burma Standard Time
Situation in Sittwe
A local resident of Sittwe in Burma's coastal state of Arakan, said the weather in Sittwe is normal. He said there are no signs as of yet that the cyclone is approaching.
However, Sittwe residents said they heard that the cyclone has reached Thandwe and Gwa Townships in Arakan State.
As telephone lines to Thandwe and Gwa are disconnected, the information could not be independently verified.
Situation in Ranong
A local resident in Ranong town on the Thai-Burmese border said, "At about 1 a.m. heavy storm and rain struck causing big waves in the sea. A few fishing boats sank and could not be found. Now it is 11 a.m. and the rain is still continuing.
Situation in Ngwe Saung beach
An official at the Rangoon head office of a toursit resort in Ngwe Saung said all telephone lines have been disconnected in the resort.
An official at the Burmese Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said, "It is expected that the cyclone will cross the Higyi Island in north Irrawaddy division shortly. So, now it's almost noon and the cyclone must have passed by now. It is also predicted that slight rain will occur in Rangoon."
The Nagris Cyclone this morning at about 10:30 a.m. crossed the Higyi Island and headed towards Moulmein in the east.
Situation in Chaungthar
A worker at the Khaing Chaungthar resort in Chuangthar beach said, "So far, this morning the storm has not reached our place. We heard that it storm has hit Higyi Island. But as a precaution, we are not accepting any guests. We have not been putting up any guests since March 30, when the military divisional commander ordered the guests to leave.
After information that a strong cyclone was approaching the Military Divisional Commander had ordered all resorts not to accept any guests.
Nagris Storm into Kawh Taung
Cyclone Nagris has hit Burma's southern most town of Kawh Taung in Thanensarim division. Nagris has also hit western Rangoon districts.
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Cyclonic storm crosses Irrawaddy Division
Mizzima News
2 May 2008 11:30 - Burma Standard Time
The cyclonic storm ' Nagris is currently crossing the Burmese coastline and may sweep over Chaungtha and Ngwesaung seaside resorts, the Burmese Meteorology Department said.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department forecast that the cyclonic storm with surface wind speeds of 100 mph will hit the Rakhine and Tanintharyi coastline and cause high tide and floods in these areas.
For further information people can contact 667766, the department announced.
The storm started and was centered on India's offshore on April 30. It first moved in a northwesterly direction. It has now changed course towards the east. It will lash Burma, Thailand, Southeast Bangladesh and India, the meteorology department warned.
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Mizzima News
1 May 2008 21:30 - Burma Standard Time
A strong cyclone hovering over Bay of Bengal will cross the Burmese coast soon.
The eye of the cyclone is now 480 miles southwest of Pathein (Bassein) and will move in a northeasterly direction within the next 12 hours, the Meteorology and Hydrology Department said.
The cyclone will bring in its wake isolated and fairly widespread rainfall along the Tanitharyi Division and Shan State. There will be widespread rain and showers in Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Rakhine, Mon, Karen and Kayah States and Divisions.
There will be gusts of wind, stormy winds and high tide along the Burmese coastline and off shore.
The wind speed may reach 40 to 50 mph during the storm.
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