Tsunami stories: Cashing in on the tragedy

A Palmerston North youth is in custody after trying to collect cash for a bogus tsunami relief fund.

"When he was caught he had $16.55 in a red bucket," Constable Jenny Kearins said.

The incident was a timely reminder to check identification of doorstep collectors, she said. Police were not aware of any genuine door-to-door collections for tsunami victims.

Australian toll

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard said 560 Australians were still unaccounted for in the wake of the tsunami.

He said 12 Australians were confirmed dead, although media reports suggest the toll is 16.

Mr Howard has declared Sunday, January 16, as a national day of mourning for tsunami victims.

Saved by the loo

A faulty toilet probably saved the lives of the Ganesalingam family.

Massey University senior lecturer Ganes Ganesalingam, his wife Prema and three children were in the Sri Lankan coastal city of Galle on Boxing Day when the tsunami hit smashed through their hotel.

Daughter Varny said: "We were in two beach-view rooms, but the toilet (broke) in our room and then the one in Mum and Dad's room was also faulty, so we were moved rooms."

The family, now back in Palmerston North, lost about $25,000 worth of goods.

Quake aftershock

A strong earthquake aftershock measuring 5.1 struck the devastated Indonesian province of Aceh but caused no major damage.

The tremor was centred 33km under the Indian Ocean floor, 66km south-west of Banda Aceh.

Mangrove lifesavers

Coastal mangrove forests and coral reefs saved lives by deflecting the tsunami and Governments should protect such natural bulwarks, says environmental group Friends of the Earth.

It said the natural barriers were the only long-term solution to shielding coastal populations.

"The areas that were protected naturally suffered less than those that were more exposed," a group spokeswoman said.

In many areas, mangrove forests and coral reefs that once acted as natural buffers have been replaced with hotels, shrimp farms, highways, and commercial developments.

Jail pay donated

Hundreds of Malaysian convicts are donating large portions of their income from prison work to the country's tsunami victims.

More than half of the 1947 inmates in the northern Taiping Prison are donating up to 50 ringgit (about $20) each to a national fund for Malaysians who lost family members or homes, said prison director Narander Singh.

A typical prisoner would need to work up to 125 seven-hour shifts gardening and performing menial tasks to earn 50 ringgit.

- AGENCIES