Hundreds From U.S. Are Missing in Asia
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON – Hundreds of Americans remain missing two days after devastating tsunamis struck Asia, but the State Department says a large number have been located and are safe.
The State Department said yesterday that 12 Americans had died, seven in Sri Lanka and five in Thailand.
Bush administration officials sought to allay concerns about the missing, saying it might simply be a matter of not getting in touch with American authorities in Asia.
Still, the State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters, “I would not presume to tell you that the casualty figure we have today is final. We just don’t know.”
Responding to the disaster, the U.S. Agency for International Development added $20 million to the already promised $15 million. The announcement was made after director Anthony Natsios met with Secretary of State Powell and Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage.
Describing the $20 million as a “line of credit,” Mr. Ereli said, “We have identified an additional $20 million that we will be working to make available” to countries struck by the worst natural disaster in four decades.
The new total of $35 million is bound to be increased, he said.
