Tidal wave death toll climbs
2004-12-26 16:16
Colombo - The death toll from tsunamis unleashed by a massive earthquake off Indonesia on Sunday passed 5 600 with people reported killed in six countries in southern and southeastern Asia.
Sri Lanka was hard hit with 2 134 people, mostly children and the elderly, confirmed dead and many more missing, relief officials and police said.
More than 1 000 people were also killed in southern India, home minister Shivraj Patil said, warning the toll could rise.
In Indonesia at least 721 people were confirmed dead from the quake and tsunamis in Aceh and North Sumatra, and the number of dead was expected to rise significantly, a government official told AFP.
In southern Thailand at least at least 168 people, including foreign tourists at famous seaside resorts, were killed and 2 008 injured, officials said.
In Malaysia at least 29 people were drowned and many others were missing, officials said.
A British tourist died in the Maldives of a heart attack as the tidal waves hit his resort, officials said.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake registered west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra measured 8.9 on the Richter scale.