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Asia quake crisis – British death toll rises
Up to 200 Britons may have been killed in the Asian earthquake disaster according to Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw.
In a statement Mr Straw said 159 British people were missing and feared dead, on top of the 40 confirmed dead. Most of the casualties were in Thailand.
As the overall death toll rose to nearly 150,000 across 11 countries, the Red Cross has described the tsunami as the biggest humanitarian disaster the world has ever seen. An estimated five million people across the region have been left homeless with little food or water and at risk of disease.
The Foreign Office established an emergency helpline for relatives of British families caught up in the crisis – 0207 008 0000 – but there was criticism that callers could not get through. For more details on FO travel advice to affected countries see today’s TravelMole news coverage.
Thousands of British holidaymakers on winter breaks were affected by the huge quake and subsequent tidal waves which hit Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Africa.
Report by Phil Davies and Ginny McGrath
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