[Andylkl]

Asian quake toll tops 3,000

Sunday, December 26, 2004 Posted: 1243 GMT (2043 HKT)

(CNN) -- Massive tidal waves triggered by the largest earthquake to shake the planet in over 40 years have wiped out coastal areas across southeastern Asia as far as 1,000 miles away, killing nearly 3,000 people -- most of them in Sri Lanka and India.

The initial quake, measuring 8.9 in magnitude, struck about 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island around 7 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center.

Colombo officials believe the death toll in Sri Lanka will rise over 2,000 after tidal waves devastated the country's eastern coast. So far, the confirmed death toll is over 1,500.

CNN, BBC, MSNBC

Are you okay and how's the situation there, Cvrk3?

Condolences to the families of the victims.