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Killer waves claim 10 000
26/12/2004 20:00 - (SA)
Jakarta - The death toll from an earthquake off Indonesia on Sunday and tsunamis that it unleashed reached 10 226 with officials reporting deaths in seven countries in southern and southeastern Asia.
In Indonesia at least 4 185 people were killed as the country took the full force of a huge earthquake and tidal waves that swallowed entire coastal villages.
Sri Lanka was hard hit with 3 225 people confirmed dead, 1 600 inured and many more missing, the military and Tamil Tiger rebels said.
At least 2 447 people were killed in southern India, with the chief minister of Tamil Nadu announcing 1 567 deaths in her state alone and at least 300 people killed on the country's Andaman islands, where 700 are missing.
In southern Thailand at least 310 people were killed, including foreign tourists at famous seaside resorts, and 5 000 injured, officials said.
In Malaysia 42 people, including many elderly and children, were killed, officials said.
A British tourist and 14 other people died in the low-lying Maldives, officials and residents said.
In Bangladesh a father and child were killed after a tourist boat capsized from large waves, local officials said.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake registered west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra measured 8.9 on the Richter scale.
Death toll:
Indonesia: 4 185
Sri Lanka: 3 225
India: 2 447
Thailand: 310
Malaysia: 42
Maldives: 15
Bangladesh: 2
Total: 10 226
bur/nj/dv
AFP
- AFP
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