A powerful cyclone has slammed into Myanmar's west coast, causing extensive structural damage and hundreds of deaths.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall on Sunday in the western state of Rakhine.

Violent winds and heavy rain destroyed steel towers and homes.

The country's top general, Min Aung Hlaing, visited affected areas on Monday to inspect damage.

The military has not disclosed details of damage so far.

But the country's pro-democracy groups told NHK that data from their sources in regions controlled by the military show that at least 200 people died in Rakhine. These include minority Rohingya Muslims, who are living as refugees.

The groups say the death toll is expected to rise, as the full picture of damage is not yet clear due to impassible roads and power outages.

The cyclone also battered neighboring Bangladesh. About 2,000 houses were completely destroyed in the south of the country.