Number of Unidentified Koreans Reduced to 276

The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced 11 Koreans dead and nine missing from the tsunamis in Southeast Asia, as of January 3.

Among the 1,355 persons missing, the locations of 1,079 people were confirmed, reducing the number of unidentified Koreans to 276.

A source close to the ministry stated, “We have confirmed through dental identifications that Oh (aged 10), thought to be missing in Thailand, is dead,” and that, “Mr. Choi, thought to be lost in the Aceh area of Indonesia, was confirmed to be staying in Jakarta.”

The U.N. announced on January 2 (local time) that “the number of tsunami victims requiring immediate food aid amounts to 1,800,000, and ranges from Somalia to Thailand.”

Jan Egeland, U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, stated, “We’re still assessing the damages in Somalia and Maldives, and the number of victims requiring immediate food aid may increase.”

Kwon-Heui Hong Hyong-gwon Pu konihong@donga.com bookum90@donga.com