Indonesian tsunami death toll rises further
An Indonesian government agency said today that recovery workers pulled 240 more bodies from debris left by the December 26 earthquake and tsunami that hit Aceh province, bringing the country’s death toll to 123,597.
The missing tally remains unchanged at 113,937, the National Disaster Relief Co-ordinating Board said. Most of those still unaccounted for are feared dead, but can’t be legally declared so for a year.
However, Indonesia’s Social Affairs Ministry has put the death toll at 127,414 and said the number of missing stands at 116,368. The government has not explained the differences in the two counts.
The NDRCB said 236 bodies were found yesterday among the debris in Aceh’s capital, Banda Aceh, and its surrounding area of Aceh Besar district, while four bodies were found along the province’s west coast.
Its overall toll of 123,597 includes 123,469 dead in Aceh and 128 in other parts of Sumatra Island.
Aceh was hardest hit by the disaster because it was closest to the epicentre of the magnitude-9.0 quake that triggered massive waves and killed between 171,325 to 182,334. The number of missing ranges from 127,240 to 129,897 – with most presumed dead.
Officials say only those previously listed as unaccounted for who are now confirmed alive or dead can be removed from the missing tally.
