U.S. Citizens Killed in Asia Identified

[emad]

U.S. Citizens Killed in Asia Identified
By CHRIS T. NGUYEN

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Friends and family members have identified at least four U.S. citizens who died Sunday in massive tsunamis caused by a 9.0-magnitude quake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra. By Tuesday, tens of thousands had died in 10 countries in southern Asia and Africa.

U.S. officials said eight Americans were among the dead but it was not immediately known if those identified were included in that figure.

Like many Sri Lankans who live abroad, Dr. Anton Ambrose and his wife, Beulah, traveled to their homeland during the holiday season for rest and relaxation.

This year's trip was to be special because they were also visiting their 33-year-old daughter, Orlantha, who had taken a two-year leave from her job in Los Angeles to teach music to underprivileged kids in her father's hometown.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4697917,00.html

[Deja Q]

1. From a UK site no less.

Did they bother to post their own citizens first, before mentioning the US?

[mbperrin]

2. Yep, like these:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,7369,1380292,00.html

Tourists return after holiday nightmare

As first of the rescued holidaymakers fly home, 12 UK fatalities are confirmed while Straw admits toll is likely to rise

and the locals

http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,7369,1380262,00.html

After the devastation, the grief

· Tsunami death toll climbs to 25,000
· 30,000 missing on remote Indian islands
· Disease fear as huge relief effort launched

John Aglionby in Phuket, Jonathan Steele in Panadura, Patrick Barkham and Brian Whitaker
Tuesday December 28, 2004

Apparently some media can cover more than one aspect of a story at a time.

Look, it's Janet!

[emad]

3. and: Tsunami deaths top 50,000:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,7369,1380303,00.html

[emad]

4. 11 U.S. Citizens Killed in Asia Tsunamis

Tuesday December 28, 2004 4:01 PM

By CHRIS T. NGUYEN

Associated Press Writer

At least 11 U.S. citizens died Sunday in massive tsunamis caused by a 9.0-magnitude quake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Secretary of State Colin Powell said. Hundreds more remained missing in 10 countries in southern Asia and Africa.

Like many Sri Lankans who live abroad, Dr. Anton Ambrose and his wife, Beulah, traveled to their homeland during the holiday season for rest and relaxation.

This year's trip was to be special because they were also visiting their 33-year-old daughter, Orlantha, who had taken a two-year leave from her job in Los Angeles to teach music to underprivileged kids in her father's hometown.

But the vacation took a terrible turn Sunday when a tsunami rushed through the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, killing Beulah and Orlantha Ambrose. It wasn't known whether Anton Ambrose suffered any injuries.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4697936,00.html

[aneerkoinos]

5. So far

Two Finnish fatalities confirmed; hundreds missing. If the number stays in few tens after couple weeks, Finnish tourists were lucky, ods are the numbers will climb quite high.

There is hardly a country that has not lost lives, overall numbers are now projected to go over 100 000.

Next stage is disease, it's hot and filthy and drinking water has been polluted. Millions and millions of homes, ships and businesses have been lost. All the help is wellcome.

[Oreegone]

6. A survivor found !!

A friends daughter has been located by the state department on Havlock island part of the Andaman chain, along with 200 other tourists, holed up at the Dolphin Resort. No food or water yet. But soon because the airport in Point Blair is open and relief supplies coming in and people flying out.

We are SSSOOOO relieved.

If you don't know the fate of any family members report them to the state department and they will call you when they are located.

[Zech Marquis]

8. thank goodness she's alive

My gf and her family were supposed to be celebrating New Year's at Phuket, but both she and her dad got sick, so they cancelled their trip...

[aneerkoinos]

7. Any news from Diego Garcia? n/t

[Soloflecks]

9. No damage there.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1273118.htm

[damntexdem]

10. Extra, extra! Four Americans killed in Indian Ocean tsunami!

Sidebar: 50,000 foreigners also killed -- see page A48.

[Retrograde]

11. we're not the only ones who do it

Every country tends to focus on its own: on yesterday's BBC and ITV coverage there were interviews with British survivors arriving at Heathrow, NHK news (Japan) was reporting on the number of Japanese in the affected area (as far as my rather limited Japanese could make out), the French paper La Liberation has the headline "At Least 22 French Killed" on its homepage, etc. Closer to home, the San Jose Mercury-News has extensive coverage on India and Sri Lanka because of the large Indian and Sri Lankan communities in the area, and nary a mention of Africa.

It brings the tragedy home, in a sense: it gives us people we can more easily relate to. Every death does diminish us, but it's hard for us as not-really-all-that-evolved tribal animals to get our minds around 50,000 dead strangers: they're statistics, as someone once said under different circumstances. Hearing about Ms Smith from my state, or the family of Adil who works in the next cube brings it down to a level we can more easily comprehend.

[aneerkoinos]

12. Internet

Finnish discussion forums have now special forums for those looking for info on relatives and friends still missing; Internet is the fastest way to spread info around. I've been checking those forums and it's dreadfull, I cannot imagine worse than not knowing for perhaps two weeks or even longer, in constant fear.

Of course no Internet forum is free from idiots of every sort.

[Moderator]

13. locking

continue discussion here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1104345