Burma Cyclone Britons Still Missing

Seventeen British nationals are still missing in Burma after a cyclone swept the country, a Foreign Office spokesperson has said.

Cyclone Nargis hit the Southeast Asian country on Saturday devastating buildings and claiming thousands of lives.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of 17 British nationals that friends and family have not been able to make contact with."

She added that there were no reports of British casualties and "no reports that they are in danger".

The Foreign Office says that problems with communications could be the reason for the delay in the 'missing' getting in touch with their families in the UK.

One of the Britons missing on Wednesday, Tom Bourden from Eastbourne, Sussex, emailed his family to say he is safe.

A senior US diplomat, Shari Villarosa, said that more than 100,000 people could have lost their lives in the natural disaster.

Burmese state media says that the official death toll is 22,980 and 42,110 are still missing. However, the United Nations (UN) expects a huge increase in the number of missing.

A further one million people have been left homeless according to the latest UN figures and the charity, World Vision estimates that 80,000 people could have died.

Information Minister, Kyaw Hsan confirmed that Burmese authorities were struggling to cope with the disaster.

"The task is very wide and extensive, and the government needs the cooperation of the people and wellwishers from at home and abroad," he said.

British Ambassador Mark Canning said that the UK is ready to offer assistance in collaboration with the UN.

Yesterday a UN plane carrying 25 tonnes of emergency supplies was cleared for entry although there were difficulties securing visas for UN teams and international aid staff.

It is believed that there are about 200 Britons living in Burma and up to 7,500 UK holidaymakers visits the country yearly.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched an appeal for help and says that the need for aid is "immediate and vast".

The EU is donating €2 million to the aid effort.

It is reported that Burma's government had not been properly warned by the country's military leaders about the approaching storm.

Cyclone Nargis - also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis - was the deadliest cyclone in the north Indian Ocean basin and the 12th deadliest cyclone of all time.

(DS)