Quake Devastation

11.16.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 29th Dec 2004

About 60,000 people are reported dead - many of them children - and millions homeless, after an earthquake sent massive waves across the region.

Eighteen Britons have died and many more are unaccounted for, with the Thai authorities suggesting as many as 43 are known to be dead. Britons have been confirmed dead in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The toll of Britons will rise, with hundreds of foreign tourists still unaccounted for in resorts on the Thai coast alone.

More than £1m is already believed to have been raised by British charities, but they are aiming to generate millions more.

Under the umbrella of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), charities including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam and World Vision are asking for money to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands.

The committee is providing 3,000 telephone lines for people to give donations - by calling 0870 60 60 900.

Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark & Bermondsey said: "Our hearts go out to all those communities in South Asia with which people and families in Southwark have so many links.

"The scale of the tragedy is almost unimaginable.

"It is our duty as the fourth most successful economy in the world to do all we can to help countries who are victims of a natural disaster worse than any most of us ever remember."

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