ID :
99895
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 20:32
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http://m.oananews.org//node/99895
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Foreign ministry seeking Thais missing in quake-hit Haiti
BANGKOK, Jan 13 (TNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday is seeking two Thai nationals reported missing by their families after a powerful earthquake hit the southern part of Haiti, leaving the capital in ruins, and Thailand is considering giving aid to the devastated nation.
A 7.0 magnitude quake hit the Caribbean island nation Tuesday afternoon with its epicentre near the capital Port-au-Prince, while 27 strong aftershocks hit in the hours after the initial 2153 GMT quake, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor choked the country with many thousands feared dead after many buildings collapsed, including the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, while the International Red Cross said an estimated 3 million people may have been affected.
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement saying that it has urged the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations, New York, to help find two Thai nationals working in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The statement said that the families of two Thais informed the foreign ministry that they were unable to contact the two as all communications network was cut by the powerful quake.
The foreign ministry said that Thais with family members working in Haiti should inform the ministry at 0 2982 8128, noting that Thailand is considering sending aid to the quake-hit nation.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sent a letter of condolence to Haitian Foreign Minister Marie-Michele Rey saying "the people of Thailand are saddened to learn of the powerful earthquake which badly hit the southern part of Haiti."
"On behalf of the Government and people of Thailand, I wish to extend my sincere sympathy and condolences to Your Excellency and, through you, to the people of Haiti, especially the bereaved families of the victims, for this unfortunate calamity and casualties. I hope that their livelihood will be restored to normalcy soon," said the statement. (TNA)
A 7.0 magnitude quake hit the Caribbean island nation Tuesday afternoon with its epicentre near the capital Port-au-Prince, while 27 strong aftershocks hit in the hours after the initial 2153 GMT quake, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor choked the country with many thousands feared dead after many buildings collapsed, including the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, while the International Red Cross said an estimated 3 million people may have been affected.
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement saying that it has urged the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations, New York, to help find two Thai nationals working in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The statement said that the families of two Thais informed the foreign ministry that they were unable to contact the two as all communications network was cut by the powerful quake.
The foreign ministry said that Thais with family members working in Haiti should inform the ministry at 0 2982 8128, noting that Thailand is considering sending aid to the quake-hit nation.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sent a letter of condolence to Haitian Foreign Minister Marie-Michele Rey saying "the people of Thailand are saddened to learn of the powerful earthquake which badly hit the southern part of Haiti."
"On behalf of the Government and people of Thailand, I wish to extend my sincere sympathy and condolences to Your Excellency and, through you, to the people of Haiti, especially the bereaved families of the victims, for this unfortunate calamity and casualties. I hope that their livelihood will be restored to normalcy soon," said the statement. (TNA)
