MFAT Tsunami Update 27, 4.30pm Wednesday 12 January

1 As of 4.30pm, the overall number of people on the MFAT database for the entire affected areas is 3747*, of whom 3346 are confirmed alive and well.

2 The number of confirmed deaths is two (see previous update re June Kander who holds Canadian citizenship). One remains in hospital (in India). There are four people missing and now presumed to be deceased. A further two have been identified as warranting a concentrated effort to determine their whereabouts.

3 The database also has 392 other people who may have been in the region. Our focus now is to identify from this group the people for whom there is no particular concern, and those for whom we are intensifying our gathering of information about their recent travel.

4 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade today resumed taking phone inquiries about New Zealanders of concern following the tsunami in South Asia. The number to call is 04 439 8000. The New Zealand Red Cross call centre closed at midday today.

5 Please note the tsunami travel advisory has been updated this afternoon with more detailed travel information and advice, see: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/travel/countries/tsunami.html

* Seventy-five duplicate entries have been deleted from the database after establishing information supplied by informants was in some cases for the same person. This takes the total from 3822 yesterday to 3747.

ENDS

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