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Death Toll Reaches 38,195 |
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The
Government yesterday placed the official of death toll by
Tsunami at 38,195 which is a 7,000 increase from the last
week's 31,000 body count.
Public Security, Law and Order Ministry Secretary Tilak
Ranaviraja said they were still pulling bodies from the
rubble and about five to six bodies were being unearthed
everyday.
"We expect the death toll to reach 40,000," he said adding
that still there were over 6,000 missing after the tsunami
waves lashed the coastal areas of the country's Southern,
Northern and Eastern parts three weeks ago.
He also said they suspect the death toll in the North and
East to be much higher than the reported 8,000.
"Already six US aircraft which assisted us in the
relief distribution and rescue missions have sought our
permission to leave the country," he said adding that the
deployment of these units was solely at the discretion of
the Chief of Joint Operations.
The US has expressed that they wish to confine their relief
assistance by military
units only to South. However, a US medical team is assisting
the doctors in Point Pedro. According to the Secretary 255
aircraft have landed here bringing relief goods to Sri Lanka
from 58 countries. |
           
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