Some 17-18 Greeks remain unaccounted for after massive earthquake/tsunami disaster in SE Asia, as death toll climbs to 69,900

   

   

    Some 17-18 Greek tourists remained unaccounted for on Wednesday, as the confirmed death toll of Sunday's massive earthquake and killer tsunami in the Indian Ocean climbed to 69,900.

    Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said Wednesday that 17-18 Greek tourists holidaying in SE Asia when the disaster struck were still unaccounted for, noting however that the figure was provisional.

    The list of unaccounted for Greek holidaymakers was fluctuating throughout the past 24 hours, as instances of Greeks thought to be in the stricken area were reported, while others on the list were reported to be safe.

    Koumoutsakos also said that a group of 17 Greek tourists had been located by Greek diplomatic personnel on Phuket and were all safe. Among those 17 were four Greeks reported to be lightly injured, one of whom remained in Phuket on doctors' orders while the other three were headed with headed for the Thai capital of Bangkok with the rest of the group.

    The foreign ministry services are in constant contact with the relatives of the Greek tourists in the area, and it was learned that a three-member Greek family had departed Tuesday night for Male.

    Another group of 25-30 Greeks was also located in the Maldives, who said they wished to continue their visit.

    Koumoutsakos said that the foreign ministry had no credible information regarding serious injury or death among Greek tourists in the area, and noted that a C-130 military plane had left Athens Tuesday for the area carrying humanitarian aid and volunteers.

    The spokesman explained that the C-130 had been ready for take-off from the onset of the disaster, but 48 hours had been required to secure the necessary permission for overflights over several countries.

    He also said that a special Olympic Airlines flight dispatched to the region that brought back 135 Greeks and several other EU citizens from the area had been the first foreign flight to reach the stricken area.

    Koumoutsakos noted the large extent of the stricken area, adding that many travellers did not wish their names to be made public, and also difficulties arising from the fact that others had travelled to the area individually via Bangkok or Germany instead of through travel agencies, and were possibly scattered throughout the area, noting for example that the Maldives comprised a complex of 1,200 small islands.

    The spokesman further noted that the local authorities in the stricken area were unable to collect and provide confirmed information on the extent of the situation and the victims, adding that the foreign ministry would not relay data that had not been cross-checked.