At least 145 people are now known to have been killed in Myanmar (Burma) by a powerful cyclone, the country's military rulers have said.

They say most of the victims of Cyclone Mocha that made landfall last Sunday were from the Rohingya minority.

The junta had earlier put the death toll at 21, but local residents told the BBC that at least 40 had died.

About 800,000 people have been affected by one of the strongest storms to hit the region this century, the UN said.

With winds of up to 209km/h (130mph), Mocha - a category five storm - battered the Rakhine state, in western Myanmar, as well as the regions of Sagaing and Magway.

"Altogether 145 local people were killed during the cyclone," Myanmar's junta said in a statement on Friday (May 19).

According to the statement, among the victims were four soldiers, 24 locals and 117 people from the Rohingya minority.

Before the official statement, there were numerous reports suggesting a much higher death toll than the initial figure of 21, especially in camps where the internally displaced Rohingya live.

Hundreds of homes and shelters have collapsed while communication has been difficult in the country and people are still missing.