Over One Million Affected By Tsunami

Hundreds of thousands abandoned their flooded homes and fled to higher ground after the worst tsunami in living memory swamped the islands in the Bay of Bengal - killing tens of thousands of people.

Officials estimate over one million people have been left homeless, many sheltering in schools and temples, and said the final death toll could be much higher as thousands of people washed out to sea and have not yet been accounted for.

Giant waves crashed into Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nicobar Islands, and Andaman Islands on Sunday morning after a powerful earthquake (9 on the Richter Scale) in distant Indonesia, sending a deluge of seawater over 10 metres high into towns and villages.

A large number of children were killed by Tsunami waves in Sri Lankaís northeast, rescue workers and local journalists said. And thousands of children have been wounded in the floods and are still without access to first aid, they said.

Lack of transport and roads destroyed by the monster waves are slowing rescue work in Mullaithivu, Mutur, Batticaloa and Amparai, according to aid workers. is prepared to serve contributions to be used for immediate relief assistance, in coordination with relevant organizations in the system.

Emergency rescue teams comprising LTTE members, Civilian Based Organisations, Local NGO’s and the TRO task force are actively engaged in recovering the bodies that are washed ashore after the ferocity of the tidal wave receded.

Already 600 bodies have been recovered in Mullaittivu and brought to Mulliyawalai for identification by surviving relatives. Kilinochchi District Hospital received 120 bodies recovered from the Thalayadi coast.

More than 900 injured were treated at the Kilinochchi hospital. Since the ward space is very much limited, only the most seriously injured are kept in the hospital and others are accommodated in school buildings and attended to by the LTTE Medical teams.

About 100 bodies were recovered in the Chundikulam coast and brought to St.Theresa school in Kilinochchi for identification.

Political Division of the LTTE, mobilised for rescue operations, assisted the surviving relatives to remove the remains of their kith and kin for cremation.

Rescue workers believe that the death toll in the Northeast region alone could be more than 6000. The number of people swept away would be much higher than earlier anticipated in the region, rescue workers say.

Massive relief efforts have been launched. Infrastructure constraints and damaged highways make the rescue work difficult. The greatest impact of the wave was felt along the coastline where the coastal shape allowing water to be forced into confined areas, such as the coves.

The tragedy is unprecedented Northeastern coast. Various figures from rescue workers in Northeast suggest that at least 5000 are dead in Mullaitivu district.

Around 2000 are believed to be dead in Vadamaradchi East. 1200 bodies have been recovered in Batticaloa so far. More than 800 bodies have been recovered in Trincomalee. Hospital sources in Kilinochchi said that around 6000 people are missing in Mullaitivu district alone.

More than 2000 are missing in Batticaloa. Scores of dead bodies are floating to shore in Ampara and Trincomalee. Hospitals in the entire Northeast face acute shortage of blood. At least 5 villages have been found completely devastated in Mullaitivu district, rescue workers said.

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