Tsunami death toll expected to increase

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 December 2004, 17:10 GMT]
Around 3100 persons in Northeast and 1400 in South have died due to tsunami waves that hit NorthEast coast Sunday, according to government sources in Colombo. In the Northeast alone, nearly 12000 people have suffered injuries and around 200,000 people have been affected, administrative sources in Colombo said. Government sources added that death toll is expected to rise significantly. In the meantime, Tamil National Alliance (TNA)parliamentarian Mr. Joseph Pararajasingam has urged the Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha, to attend to immediate needs of the affected public in the east.

About six hundred persons died in several coastal villages in the Trincomalee district Sunday. Some sources estimated the toll to be around 800.

57,000 families were affected in Trincomalee district.

In Muttur town area alone about 266 villagers died, half of them children.

About 250 died in Kinniya division.

At Nilaveli village in Trincomalee division about forty persons died, most of them children. In Trincomalee town about nineteen died. In Eeachilampathu and Muttur east villages in LTTE controlled areas more than two hundred persons are reported missing.

Till now about forty bodies have been recovered, district secretariat sources said.

About five hundred have been injured in the Trincomalee district, medical authorities said. They are admitted to hospitals in Trincomalee, Kantalai, Thampalakamam and Muttur. Thirukkovil village is heavily affected, sources said.

Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Trincomalee district secretariat said Sunday evening that it would provide assistance to relatives of the dead irrespective of racial, language and other differences to conduct funerals.

Those needed such assistance should approach TRO offices in Trincomalee district, TRO official said.

In the south, Galle, Hampantotta, Matara, Panadura, Kalutara districts, 1400 died, Galle Government hospital official's sources said. Most of the villages in these districts are floating in the sea. Galle fort also was severely affected by tidal waves, Galle Government agent said. Meanwhile, the Defence ministry reported an overall total of 5000 deaths.

Although government sources were unable to provide details from Mullaithivu, sources said at least 500 are feared dead in Mullaitivu district, and around 3000 are missing.

Around 450 were died in Batticaloa and nearly 45,000 families severely damaged and affected by flash flooding. 10 Villages are totally affected by the tidal waves.

Relief workers continue to face difficulties in reaching some badly affected coastal villages.

Also, in Colombo, densely populated Tamil areas of Wellawatta, Bambalapitiya, Mattakulia and Matara have been affected by flash flooding.