Dec. 30, 2004
By Danny Buttler
The Advertiser

FIVE million lives are hanging in the balance after the most devastating tsunami in history. Survivors scrambled for food and water in nations around the Indian Ocean yesterday as the threat of disease stalked them.

The death toll hit 86,000, with tens of thousands missing.

Ten Australians are confirmed dead with more grim news to come.

At least 1000 Australians are missing in regions directly hit by the tsunamis - most in Thailand.

Another 4000 are unaccounted for in countries affected by the disaster.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatrahe said most of the 6000 missing in the Phuket resort region were probably dead.

"There are many people listed as missing and we think that 80 per cent of them are feared dead," he said.

The bodies of hundreds of tourists - some still clad in bathing suits - rotted in the baking sun at Khao Lak, north of Phuket, four days after the waves hit the resort.

Looting and lawlessness broke out in Sumatra's Aceh province, where the toll passed 45,000.

Villagers face weeks without shelter or medical aid - if they survive.

They fought over packets of noodles in the streets of Banda Aceh, while military planes dropped food parcels over the devastated coastline.

In Sri Lanka, disease outbreaks sparked fears of an epidemic. In southern India, paramedics vaccinated thousands against cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and dysentery.

Panic-stricken survivors in India and Sri Lanka fled when police sirens blared warnings of more tsunamis.

A volcano erupted in the Andaman Islands, near the epicentre of Sunday's massive quake, but the US experts said the shockwaves were not large enough to trigger new tidal waves.

Governments around the world have pledged more than $300 million. The UN started its own appeal for $170 million.

With the direct death toll certain to top 100,000, Australia joined the US, Japan and India to co-ordinate the relief effort.

Four-wheel drive vehicles draped with Australian flags slowly moved around devastated resorts in Thailand.

The Department of Foreign Affairs begged Australians who were safe to notify officials so that they could narrow the search.

Prime Minister John Howard urged Australians to leave disaster zones unless they were involved in relief work. "There is a major public risk in people remaining unless it is absolutely necessary to do so," he said.

Australia sent a 90-bed field hospital to Aceh. Supply ship HMAS Kanimbla is on its way with five helicopters and 100 engineers. Medical teams are heading to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Other foreign nationals missing include 1500 Swedes, 1000 Germans, 600 Italians and up to 450 Norwegians. US President George W. Bush described the disaster as "beyond our comprehension".

He rejected criticism by a UN official of "stinginess" by rich nations, saying the US pledge of $35 million was just a start.

Disease, hunger and thirst are set to cause a dramatic rise in the toll.

Those who survived the giant waves are now threatened by disease from contaminated water, ruptured sewage systems and mosquitoes.

"Perhaps as many as five million people are not able to access what they need for living," said World Health Organisation crisis leader David Nabarro.

"Either they cannot get water, or their sanitation is inadequate or they cannot get food."

Anger began to show in stricken communities.

"We need rice. We need petrol. We need medicine. I haven't eaten in two days," a desperate woman said in Banda Aceh.

New Year celebrations across Asia have been cancelled or turned into remembrance services.

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