The death toll in Thailand following the Indian Ocean tsunami has risen to 4,500, of which nearly half were foreigners, it has emerged.
The tsunami killed at least 2,230 foreigners in the southern Thai province whose beaches include devastated Khao Lak, the provincial government said today.
The Phang Nga provincial office released data showing at least 2,027 foreigners died there, most on the Khao Lak beaches where giant waves destroyed luxury hotels packed with tourists at the Christmas peak of the season.
Data from national and provincial disaster centres collated by Reuters showed the official death toll in Thailand was now 4,500, at least 2,230 of them foreigners.
The increased death toll confirmed estimates made by police and rescue workers in the past few days that Khao Lak was the worst hit area in Thailand.
