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Missing tsunami boy's father hurt | Missing tsunami boy's father hurt |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The British father of a two-year-old boy presumed killed when a tsunami hit Samoa has been treated in hospital, consul officials have said. | The British father of a two-year-old boy presumed killed when a tsunami hit Samoa has been treated in hospital, consul officials have said. |
It is understood the man was hurt when waves swept his son from a beach on the South Pacific island on Tuesday. | It is understood the man was hurt when waves swept his son from a beach on the South Pacific island on Tuesday. |
No details of the man's injuries have been released or if he is still in hospital. The Foreign Office says the boy remains "missing, presumed dead". | No details of the man's injuries have been released or if he is still in hospital. The Foreign Office says the boy remains "missing, presumed dead". |
Some 110 people have died in Samoa, 30 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga. | Some 110 people have died in Samoa, 30 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga. |
The tsunami happened after an earthquake, with a magnitude of between eight and 8.3, struck about 120 miles from American Samoa, a US territory. | The tsunami happened after an earthquake, with a magnitude of between eight and 8.3, struck about 120 miles from American Samoa, a US territory. |
I don't have any information about his injuries but I understood he was in a stable condition British High Commission spokesman | I don't have any information about his injuries but I understood he was in a stable condition British High Commission spokesman |
Thousands of people were left homeless as entire communities were destroyed, buildings were flattened and cars swept away. | Thousands of people were left homeless as entire communities were destroyed, buildings were flattened and cars swept away. |
It is believed the missing boy's parents, originally from the UK, live in the Auckland area of New Zealand. | It is believed the missing boy's parents, originally from the UK, live in the Auckland area of New Zealand. |
The boy has a New Zealand passport. | The boy has a New Zealand passport. |
A spokesman for the British High Commission in New Zealand said his father was taken from the south coast of the island to hospital in the Samoan capital of Apia. | A spokesman for the British High Commission in New Zealand said his father was taken from the south coast of the island to hospital in the Samoan capital of Apia. |
"I don't have any information about his injuries, or whether he is still in hospital, but I understood he was in a stable condition," said the spokesman. | "I don't have any information about his injuries, or whether he is still in hospital, but I understood he was in a stable condition," said the spokesman. |
Consul officials said there were no further confirmed British casualties. | Consul officials said there were no further confirmed British casualties. |
Indonesia quakes | Indonesia quakes |
Meanwhile, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander has said Britain is "ready to act" to help those affected by both the tsunami and earthquakes which have hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra. | |
Thousands of people are feared dead after tremors with magnitudes of 7.6 and 6.9 brought down hospitals, schools and shopping malls, cut power lines and triggered landslides. | |
Mr Alexander stopped short of pledging cash but told the Labour party conference the government was ready to offer support. | |
The Department for International Development is preparing to send a humanitarian assessment team to Indonesia and mobilise the UK Fire and Rescue Service if called upon. | |
UK ambassador to Indonesia, Martin Hatfull, said British citizens were likely to have been caught up in the quakes. | |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Our main concern is really for the welfare of British citizens who may be caught up in the first major earthquake, which has done a great deal of damage. | |
"We don't imagine that there are very large numbers of British travellers there because it's not a major tourist destination, but it's quite popular with independent travellers who go backpacking and there's very good surfing on the island off the coast." | "We don't imagine that there are very large numbers of British travellers there because it's not a major tourist destination, but it's quite popular with independent travellers who go backpacking and there's very good surfing on the island off the coast." |
Mr Hatfull said it was difficult to determine how many Britons were affected because communications had been damaged but that contact had been made with two or three. | Mr Hatfull said it was difficult to determine how many Britons were affected because communications had been damaged but that contact had been made with two or three. |
"We have no reports of any people who are injured," he said. | "We have no reports of any people who are injured," he said. |
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