AP Network News. I’m John Belmont.
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The numbers are astounding. Eight times the number of people killed on 9/11, swept away by tsunamis on just one day. The Red Cross now says more than 23,000 people are dead in South Asia. Between a third and a half of them children. Secretary of state Colin Powell puts the confirmed number of Americans killed at eight, but that could rise.
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--- Our embassies are working in the affected areas to assist contacting families and others, US citizens who, ah, are unaccounted for.
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Deputy White House press secretary Trent Duffy says American cash already is on the way.
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--- This initial United States funds are already flowing through the embassies, the dollar amounts $400,000 at the early outgoing, and then $4 million in the next few days.
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The UN says this could be the costliest natural disaster in history. Mike Casey in Indonesia says many people still unaccounted for.
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--- The searches are ongoing for survivors in some of these destroyed buildings, with also loved ones looking for their dead children and other family members.
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There were no warnings yesterday, but the Indian government says it’s thinking of starting a tsunami warning system, like the one that exists in the Pacific. Australia and Japan say they’ll help.
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The US east coast digging out from under a brutal winter storm that’s left more than a foot of snow from parts of Virginia to coastal Massachusetts. Power is out for thousands of people. Matt Pitta in Boston reports the heavy snow has brought down trees and power lines.
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--- A lot of power lines have come down across the area. The power companies have been working for hours now to try to restore electricity.
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he will seek final cabinet approval for a Gaza withdrawal in February. That’s four months earlier than planned, and he is threatening harsh retaliation if Palestinian militants try to disrupt that pullback.
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This is AP Network News.
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The man who was welcomed home by 60,000 Texans wearing yellow has been named the AP’s Male Athlete of the Year. Marv Schneider on the repeat honor for Lance Armstrong.
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--- It’s the third year in a row Armstrong has won the award. Michael Jordan is the only other athlete to win the AP Male Athlete three straight years. Armstrong highlighted his year by winning his sixth straight Tour de France, cycling’s premier event. The 33-year-old Texan had 51 first-place votes from the nation’s participating sports broadcasters and writers. Second, with 17 first-place votes, was Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. This is Marv Schneider.
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A preliminary autopsy report indicates NFL great Reggie White may have died of a respiratory disease combined with other health problems. The Mecklenburg County medical examiner says White most likely had a condition that affected the amount of air his lungs could hold, resulting in (fatal back) fatal cardiac arrhythmia. Sleep apnea also may have been a factor.
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