APCEDI ALERT EQ-SSEA #11, 2004: Series of Earthquakes and Tsunamis Devastate Wide Area of South and Southeast Asia

Updated Information and Death Tolls

Death tolls continue to climb in Sri Lanka as more substantial news from the Tamil controlled north began coming in. The situation in Sumatra's Aceh Province is so devastating that the Government has given up trying to get an actual count and will only be able to do an estimate. Little news is still getting out of Burma prompting calls by many academics and organisations for the Government to give updated and full disclosure about the situation.

The following figures are from five primary sources: OCHA, USAID, BBC, Agence France-Presse and the Indian Government. These figures reflect the averages being provided by the above sources.

Sumatra and off shore islands, 79,940 dead, Death toll rates are highly variable at the moment but the overall trend continues upward. With information coming in from affected villages of the Northwest Coast of Aceh Province south of Banda Aceh, the toll has risen dramatically. The town of Meulaboh and others south of Banda Aceh have finally been reached by relief workers and media, and these towns were found to be almost completely destroyed. Aceh Province has about 90% of the casualties with Northern Sumatra Province with 10%.

Sri Lanka, 28,508 dead; 804,599 displaced persons, 8,602 injured, 5,023 missing, 80,000 houses destroyed (OCHA). These numbers are increasing as information from the Tamil controlled north comes in. Highest casualty rates are from the East Coast cities of Trincomalee and Batticaloa and the South Coast cities of Hambantota and Galle. Affected Areas Map

INDIA, 8,955 dead; 3,872 missing as follows (Latest GOI figures):
Tamil Nadu; 7409 dead; Chennai (Madras), Velankunni and Nagappattinam areas hardest hit,
Southern Andhra Pradesh, 106 dead, 7 missing; Krishna , Guntur , Prakasam and Nellore Districts hardest hit.
Pondicherry enclaves 576 dead;
Southern Kerala 168 dead; 2 missing, Southern Districts including Kollam, Alleppy and Alappuzha Districts hardest hit.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India 712 dead, 3,754 missing presumed dead, 5677 displaced; toll likely to rise as missing are not found; severe to catastrophic damage throughout island chains. Car Nicobar, Pilmillow and Great Nicobar Islands particularly hard hit.
For a complete Summary on India, GOI SPECIAL SITREP-XIV

Thailand, 4,560 dead, 10,496 injured, 6,479 missing most casualties from Phuket and Phi Phi Islands and along the peninsular west coast including Krabi area. Especially hard hit on Phuket Island was Khao Lak National Park and surrounding beaches which had many resort hotels destroyed and also had many campers and more rustic style coastal hostels.

Burma, 90-100 dead; Today the Government claimed that 53 are dead, 21 missing, 43 injured and 778 people are homeless from 17 devasted villages. Most damage in the Irrawaddy Delta and coastal towns of the Tenassarim Peninsula; 36 deaths reported in Pyinzalu Island near Labutta town and another 20 from the Thanintharyi Division in the peninsula. AFP and UNICEF claims that there is widespread damage on the Co Co Islands but the Burmese Government is denying this.Despite the Government issuing new figures today, many scientists and aid groups are now claiming the state of devastation in affected areas is far greater than being admitted. They are pressing the Burmese Government for full details.

Maldives 75 dead; 42 missing, 11,000-12,200 people displaced; damage throughout country.

Malaysia, 65 dead, 50 missing, Most casualties in Penang and Coastal Kedah State in Northwest.

Bangladesh 2 dead; overall damage light.

Somalia 120 dead, 35 missing, 50,000 homeless with the majority of destruction along the Puntland Coast and on Hafun Island.

Madagascar Initial BBC reports of 100 dead or missing in the coastal city of Manakara, were not confirmed by the Government relief team. However, 1,200 people in Mankara are homeless. Sainte Marie, Sambava and Vohemar also had damage to coastal areas. Updates can be found from the Madagascar Tribune

Tanzania 10 dead.

Seychelles 3 dead.

Kenya 1 dead.

Many of these figures will still continue to rise as reports from outlying and cut-off areas eventually come in.

Very good updates on relief efforts can be found on UN's Relief Web.

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator
http://www.afap.org/
AFAP Appeal Hotline: 1-800-007-308