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5000 Australians missing in Tsunami Disaster
EIGHT Australians have been confirmed killed, another eight are missing feared dead and 5000 are out of contact after the Asian tsunami disaster, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today. Given the large number of Australians who had not been accounted for since Sunday's Asian tsunami disaster, people should brace themselves for the official death toll to rise significantly, Mr Downer said. "We are very concerned that those numbers could grow and grow quite substantially," he told reporters. The official toll includes seven Australian citizens and a Dutch national with permanent residency. Parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs Bruce Billson said officials were trying to locate Australians in difficult conditions after an unparalleled disaster. "We have been able to locate and confirm as safe 2,400 Australians in the areas affected - that's an encouraging trend that's increasing as each day goes by," he said. Of the eight Australians missing feared dead, seven had been in Thai coastal resorts and one was in India, Mr Billson said. 5,000 of my fellow Aussie brothers & sisters are missing, its a grim day. Posted by: God Save The World 2004-12-29 |
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