United Nations Radio

The death toll from Sunday's earthquake and numerous tidal waves it spawned in the Indian Ocean continues to rise and is now pegged at 20,000.

"I think the tsunami affecting Southeast Asia is not the biggest in recorded history, but the effects may be the biggest ever."

UN Disaster relief Chief Jan Egeland moments ago assessing the potential damage of the tidal waves that struck several South Asian nations Sunday. He says the effects are worse as many more people are living in exposed areas that have been struck.   Mr. Egeland says devastation comes in two waves  the first has already brought tens of thousands of casualties in dead and wounded. And the second wave he adds, is the after effect which is affecting millions of people:

"The worst devastation is that caused to water and sanitation. Drinking water for millions has been polluted; disease will be a result of that and also acute respiratory disease always comes in the wake of these kinds of massive disasters."

The tidal waves have affected Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand and
Malaysia and inundated large parts of the Maldives.