The death toll from the earthquake, the tsunamis and the resultant floods was reported to be more than 160,000, with tens of thousands of people reported missing, and over a million left homeless. Relief agencies report that one-third of the dead appear to be children. This is a result of the high proportion of children in the populations of many of the affected regions and the fact that children were the least able to resist being dragged by the surging waters. Coastal fishing communities and their fisherfolk, some of the poorest people in the region, have been the most devastated with high loss of life as well as boats and fishing gear.
States of emergency were declared in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Maldives. The United Nations has declared that the current relief operation will be the costliest one ever. Governments and NGOs fear the final death toll may double as a result of diseases, prompting a massive humanitarian response.
In terms of total fatalities and economic damage, this is the worst tsunami in recorded history the previous record being the 1703 tsunami at Awa, Japan that killed over 100,000 people and one of the ten worst earthquakes.
Confirmed death toll:
Indonesia: 100,000
Sri Lanka: 41,008
India: 8,942
Thailand: 4,510
Somalia: 132
Myanmar: 90
Maldives: 74
Malaysia: 66
Tanzania: 10
Seychelles: 10
Bangladesh: 2
Kenya: 2
South Africa: 2
Totals: 154,848
Source: Wikipedia,01Jan05.
News - Death toll at 154,000 as at 1st Jan 2005
9:43 AM
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