Sri Lanka’s death toll from Sunday’s killer tidal wave, may be much higher

Sri Lanka's death toll from Sunday's killer tidal wave, may be much higher than initially expected, government officials told state television Tuesday morning.







Sri Lanka's death toll from Sunday's killer tidal wave, may be much higher than initially expected, government officials told state television Tuesday morning. Death tolls were put around 10,000 on Monday but a top government official told state run ITN TV network that the numbers are likely to be higher.

Indonesian state news agency Antara has quoted Vice President Yusuf Kalla as saying that the death toll in the Aceh region which is closest to the epicentre of the earthquake may be between 21,000 to 25,000.

Overnight reports from the Eastern Sri Lankan town of Kalmunai said 6000 may have died in that area alone.

The tsunami has also devastated areas held by Tamil Tiger rebels, where communications and public services are poor.

The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization said upto 8000 are dead in the North East and is appealing for help

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