FM confirms 4th death of national in tsunami
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-31 00:15

The Chinese Foreign Ministry yesterday confirmed the fourth death of a Chinese citizen in the tsunami that has claimed at least 125,000 people in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Hong Kong residents donate money on Friday during a ceremony at Causeway Bay to help tsunami-hit victims in Southern and Southeastern Asia. The donation was organized by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and other agencies.[newsphoto]

Hu Xiaolan, a Chinese Embassy official in Thailand, said the body was that of a female who was swept away by waters in Thailand. The victim was from East China's Jiangsu Province, but Hu declined to provide further details.

She said officials are still doing their best to get in touch with Chinese nationals in Thailand and to offer them help.

So far, four Chinese residents are known to have been killed, two from Taiwan Province, one from Hong Kong and one from Jiangsu Province, the foreign ministry has confirmed.

Meanwhile, China Central Television Station said it has cancelled a New Year's Eve gala programme out of respect for the tsunami victims.

The Buddhist Association of China also sent condolences over the heavy loss of lives to the affected countries.

The association has called on the Chinese Buddhist circles to hold prayer services and planned to send donations to the countries most hit by the earthquake and resulting tsunami, Xinhua said, citing association Vice-President Sheng Hui.

Government aid

Government departments have also pledged to offer more emergency relief in Asian countries hit by the waves.

The Ministry of Education has called on universities nationwide to take care of overseas students from the disaster-hit countries, the ministry's Department for International Co-operation and Exchanges indicated.

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