Missing Australian tourist boat found safe after tsunami

Missing Australian tourist boat found safe after tsunami

2010-10-27 10:07:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

SYDNEY (BNO NEWS) -- A small group of missing Australian tourists have been found alive after a deadly tsunami struck Indonesian islands off the western coast of Sumatra, officials said on Wednesday.

The nine Australian tourists were on board the tourist boat MV Southern Cross, which was near the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia when a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck nearby. The quake unleashed a massive tsunami, killing scores of people and leaving many more missing on the islands.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had said on Tuesday that contact had been lost with the ship since the earthquake, but noted that it was unclear whether this was the result of poor phone coverage or because they were impacted by the tsunami.

On Wednesday, the department said it had confirmed the safety and welfare of the missing Australians on board the vessels. "Two of the Australian men on board the vessel spoke to next-of-kin late on [Tuesday], who have confirmed to DFAT that all on board were safe and well," a spokesperson said.

The Australian Embassy's consular warden in the affected area has since also spoken directly to the captain of the boat. According to the department, those on board the Southern Cross were unaware that the earthquake and tsunami had taken place.

As of Wednesday, no Australian casualties have been reported from both the earthquake and tsunami. However, many local villages have been destroyed by the tsunami, killing at least 120 people and leaving as many as 500 people missing.

On December 26, 2004, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck off the west coast of Sumatra. The 9.1-magnitude earthquake unleashed a deadly tsunami, striking scores of countries. In all, at least 227,898 people were killed.

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