Posted on 12/30/2004 5:10:26 AM PST by bd476
BBC Online: Last Updated: Wednesday, 29 December, 2004, 09:25 GMT
Thousands of people are still missing and millions are homeless following the Asia earthquake that has seen the death toll reach tens of thousands.
Huge waves triggered by the worst earthquake in 40 years have devastated large parts of South and South East Asia.
The BBC News website has received many messages from people eager to find out about the whereabouts of families and friends who live in or are visiting the region.
Can you help? Or, have you lost contact with someone in the region?
Use the form on the right to send your stories and please let us know if you do find anyone.
You can read our message board for missing persons by clicking on the links below.
Click here for those missing in Sri Lanka
Click here for those missing in India
Click here for those missing in Indonesia
Click here for those missing in the Maldives
BBC Online form to trace the missing
Here is another list of missing persons in or near Thailand over 45 pages long now. The good news is that there are some "Found" comments added to this list.
At first glance it appears that they make you register to post a missing person report, but searching the list does not require registration:
I had heard that the people native to the locations are being buried in large pits, but that the bodies of the Europeans and other foreigners are being held so that they can be identified by their family members. The authorities were taking pictures of all the dead and recording any physical characteristics; clothing, tatoos, distinguishing marks, etc to help in the identification. The biggest problem, especially with the native peoples is that likely whole families were wiped out, and there is no one left to identify and claim the bodies.
Just found this highlight of Marc Degener's movie career. It loaded quickly and played very well with no glitches.
Karl, please ping any amateur radio Freepers. This sounds like a ham network. Right now they are speaking Thai, but the link came from a mixed English/Thai site.
That's great that they're taking DNA samples. I'm sure it will be some comfort for the families of those who have died to at least have their loved ones identified, and they may even be able to bury them.
If you have any questions, let me know. I will be talking to my friend again in the morning (EST) and I can ask her. She is doing relief work in the hardest hit area of Thailand.
I don't believe I knew anyone in the affected areas. I just know that if I did, I'd want to KNOW where they were, alive or dead.
bump
Not sure if you have heard of actor Marc Degener. He's on the list of those missing.
If they can get enough DNA samples per person, mark it and store it properly, the DNA will keep indefinitely.
Hopefully there will be a way to identify most everyone, and with DNA samples and technology perhaps all in the near future.
they are saying CQ CQ CQ to begin transmission...that is the universal code to start a transmission....used to be via morse code
Thanks for the confirmation, Karl.
Ping.
This might be of help.
There is mention on some bulletin boards about some of the sites being so overloaded with hits that they are crashing.
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