New Zealanders asked to stay away from Thailand

Worried New Zealanders have been urged not to go to Thailand to try to find missing family or friends as fears intensify that the country's death toll from the Boxing Day tsunami will get much worse.

Foreign Affairs and Trade officials said yesterday the risk of disease and the poor state of decomposing bodies in the heat meant it was no longer practical for people to try to visually identify victims. 

Four New Zealanders are feared dead in Thailand and 30 have not been found since the tsunami struck popular holiday spots six days ago.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday cut short a holiday to return to New Zealand. She is believed to have been in Norway, one of the worst-hit western nations with dozens killed and hundreds missing in Thailand.

Leone Cosens, formerly of Wellington, was buried yesterday, but there remain unconfirmed reports that three others, including two expatriates, are dead.

Worries are growing for the safety of 30 New Zealanders who were in the worst- hit beach resort areas of southwest Thailand, and eight others missing in India and Sri Lanka.

Hundreds more remain unaccounted-for across Thailand. Hospital injury lists name New Zealanders who have been treated, but other people are simply listed by vague descriptions, such as, "old lady with white skin".

Helen Clark, due home early next week, yesterday extended her sympathies to Ms Cosens' family and said her thoughts were with those injured and traumatised and people whose friends and family were lost.

"As the days go by their concern deepens, as does mine. In these circumstances I believe the best place for me is at home."

A special disaster identification team was last night at makeshift morgues and hospitals in southern Thailand trying to collect forensic samples from bodies which need to be buried quickly.

The Thai Government has released guidelines for the burial of people believed to be Western tourists. DNA samples, and photographs where possible, will be taken and bodies buried individually so they can be exhumed later.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the team had an appalling task ahead. The Government has already warned that identifying bodies through DNA will be a long process, and some bodies may never be repatriated or even found.

Mr Goff said the relatives of those still missing would at some stage have to be asked to provide identifying information, such as details of jewellery or tattoos.

Kiwis In Thailand

In Thailand, officials have 835 New Zealanders registered.

Two has been killed and two are feared dead. 

30 were in the worst-hit areas but have not been heard from.

Another 233 are unaccounted-for across Thailand.

526 people have been contacted and are safe.

At least 17 have been treated for injuries in Thai hospitals.

Eight New Zealanders have not been found in Sri Lanka and India.

One person was in hospital in Chennai, India.

There are no known NZ casualties in Indonesia, Malaysia or the Maldives.