Struggle to count horror's aftermath

4.30 pm - by EMMA CHAMBERLAIN and NZPA

Maybe it is a comfort in the middle of trauma to know the numbers.

Against images of coffins stacked four or five high and charred bodies strewn through a Balinese nightclub, a number can reduce the horror to an imaginable size.

But the numbers have changed rapidly.

Counts of the dead changed from 21 to 150 on the day of the bombing.

The next day the figure went to 216, then back down to 183.

So far, that is about where it has stayed.

The suspected New Zealand toll has also fluctuated.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said as many as six New Zealanders were feared dead.

Twelve hours later the number was three - the rest had been found and were safe.

Ministry spokesman Brad Tattersfield said one man on a surfing trip to Bali who had not been seen since the explosion was reported safe and well by his sister last night.

"Two other people who hadn't checked into their hotel since the bombing did so last night, so that has also reduced the number."

On Monday, 491 New Zealanders were unaccounted for.

That number has come down steadily and by Wednesday night only 94 names were on the list.

But by mid-afternoon today, the number unaccounted for was back up to 112.

The tally changed because more relatives phoned in with details of people they thought might have been in the area.

The ministry says it is only too aware of the need to get the figures right, when families are anxious and the country wants answers.

But the situation in Bali is difficult.

"It's now fairly clear that most of the bodies will not be able to be visually identified," said Mr Tattersfield.

"They will need to be identified using forensic techniques. That could take several weeks.

"The only way we will get a early indication of the true number of New Zealand fatalities is by developing a list that is credible."

About 2500 friends and relatives have called the ministry's hotline. From those calls, a list of New Zealanders in Bali was drawn up. It has so far accounted for 1219 travellers.

The ministry believes most of those unaccounted for are safe. But it is concerned for one, and says the death toll could go higher than the present count of two dead and one missing.

Mr Tattersfield said the four ministry staff working in Bali were "slogging the streets, going to the morgue, working with local police and Australian police".

"They are working much longer than dawn 'til dusk. They're getting very little sleep."

Bali messages and latest information on New Zealanders
New Zealand travellers in Bali, and their families around the world, can exchange news via our Bali Messages page. The page also contains lists of New Zealanders in Bali and their condition.

Foreign Affairs advice to New Zealanders

* Travellers should defer travel to Bali

* NZers in Bali should keep a low profile and remain calm

* Foreign Affairs Hotline: 0800 432 111

Feature: Bali bomb blast

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