More Dutch traced after Indian Ocean disaster

5 January 2005

AMSTERDAM — The number of Dutch people yet to be traced after the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean stands at 120, down significantly on the initial figure of 500.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry says seven other Dutch nationals are confirmed to have died. A further 30 are listed as missing. Officials concede it is increasingly likely they are also dead because they have not been heard from since the tsunami on 26 December.

The list of people who were thought to be in the Asian and East African states affected by the disaster, and who had not made contact with relatives or the authorities, has shortened steadily over the last 11 days.

Of the 500 originally listed as “untraced”, the authorities have been in contact with all but 120 by Wednesday morning. The number of untraced people stood at 150 on Tuesday.

It is estimated 150,000 people died in the tsunami. Indonesia bore the brunt and suffered at least 90,000 fatalities. It is believed another 30,000 died on Sri Lanka.

Thailand has estimated its death toll at 5,265, including 2,510 foreigners. Almost 1,100 foreign holidaymakers are among about 4,500 people still missing in Thailand.

Some estimates put the total death toll for all countries at 200,000.

Meanwhile, eight Dutch people being treated in the special calamity unit of the UMC Hospital in Utrecht were transferred to their local hospitals on Wednesday.

They were among a group of 29 holidaymakers flown home from Asia on 1 January. The UMC took 22 members of the group, but the other 14 have been released.

Subject: Dutch news, Indian Ocean disaster