Over 22,000 die in Asia earthquake, tsunamis

Great earthquake and deadly tsunamis it triggered Sunday has left over 22,000 people dead and millions affected across South and South East Asia Monday.

The quake and tsunamis struck Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other places.

In Sri Lanka, the death toll has already risen to 10,029, a military spokesman was quoted by local media as saying.

Earlier in the day, defense military sources said at least 5,880 people had been killed in Sri Lanka as a huge tsunami triggered by the world's strongest earthquake in 40 years lashed coastlines of the country.

The worst tsunami has also killed 70 foreign tourists, including at least nine Japanese, the state tourist board said.

"We airlifted them yesterday and we are taking fingerprints at the moment," said an official from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

He said most of them had died in the island's eastern part and officials were hampered by damaged communication lines in their rescue efforts.

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga who is on a private visit to Britain is to cut short her visit and to return to Sri Lanka, the president office said here earlier.

Kumaratunga has called for international assistance in the faceof the country's worst ever humanitarian disaster and declared a state of "national disaster."

Soon after the tidal waves hit, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa traveled to the southern coastal areas on a special Air Force helicopter. He instructed local authorities to provide immediate relief to the people.

The towns of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara along with the southern towns of Matara and Galle are the worst hit.

Government relief agencies and Security Forces launched an immediate relief and rescue operation as the enormity of the disaster became apparent.

The President's Secretary, Public Security Ministry Secretary and Commanders of three Armed Forces are coordinating the relief effort. Steps have also been taken to widen the relief service operations jointly launched by the tree Armed Forces and Police.

A large number of Air Force helicopters and Navy boats have been deployed to rescue the affected people. Security forces said the affected people are now being evacuated to safe places.

Massive sea waves, triggered by an earthquakes in Southeast Asia, crashed into coastal villages over a wide area of Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing at least 2,500 people the same day and displacing one million others.

Source: Xinhua