Fears are growing for a Co Tyrone man who is thought to have been on the Thai island of Phi Phi when the tsunami struck.
Mr Conor Keightley, from Cookstown, who is 31 today, told a family friend in an e-mail he was taking a boat trip on Christmas Day. Friends believe he was on Phi Phi at the time.
His father, Dermot, said it was a difficult time for the family. "We've been writing e-mails and other things, but we've come up with nothing," he told the BBC.
Friends of a missing Dublin woman are also anxious for her safety. Accountant Ms Lucy Coyle (29), from Killiney and her English boyfriend, Mr Sean Sweetman, were on Phi Phi. They left London on December 17th but have not been in contact since the disaster. "The family is very upset, as you can imagine, but they are concentrating all their efforts on trying to find Lucy," said a friend.
There was one piece of good news from Thailand yesterday, when a Co Antrim historian who had been feared dead made contact. Mr Alex Blair, who was in Sri Lanka, left a message for his neighbour in Ballymoney on Wednesday, but she only heard it yesterday. He said he was not in a stricken area and was returning home. As many as 20 Irish people are still unaccounted for, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Irish aid agencies say there has been a large response to appeals for donations to help survivors, with close to €2 million being raised so far. Publicans and hotel owners are to hold a collection for the humanitarian effort over the New Year weekend. Collection buckets are expected to be placed in every pub, club, restaurant and hotel. Proceeds will be delivered to Garda stations and given to the Irish Red Cross. In Belfast, Dean Houston McKelvey, also known as 'Black Santa', has collected stg£240,000 (€339,000) in two days on the steps of St Anne's Cathedral in Donegall Street.
The Minister for Defence, Mr O'Dea, said last night if a State affected by the tsunami requested Irish soldiers for the relief effort, he would seek Cabinet approval.