Rescue operations ceased in some tsunami-affected areas

BANGKOK, Jan 3 (TNA) - The official Thai death toll from last week's tsunamis topped 5,000 for the first time today, while nearly 4,000 people remained missing.

          According to the latest figures from the government's tsunami relief centre in the country's southern province of Phuket, 5,046 people died in the tragedy, while 8,457 were injured.  

          Phang-nga bore the brunt of the disaster, with 4,004 deaths, followed by Phuket with 262, Ranong with 172, Satun with six and Trang with five.

          However, with the official number of missing standing at 3,810, the death toll is likely to rise further as more corpses are recovered.  

          Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health today made an emergency appeal for more medical equipment to help in tsunami relief operations.

          Dr. Pipat Yingseree, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said that rescue workers urgently needed more long rubber gloves, large Wellington boots, mosquito repellent, surgical masks and large black refuse sacks.

          The ministry is accepting donations at its headquarters in Nonthaburi Province on the outskirts of Bangkok, and will send them to the country's six southern provinces affected by the tsunamis on 26 December, including Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun. (TNA)--E006

วันที่  3 ม.ค. 2548