The death toll in the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster approached 60,000 last night, with world health chiefs warning that disease could kill as many people again if fresh water and medicine does not reach stricken areas soon.
Across the region stories of incredible devastation emerged as one of the largest and most complex relief efforts ever undertaken swung into action.
The worst-hit area appeared to be the Aceh province of Sumatra, where one town alone, Meulaboh, reported 10,000 dead. The Indonesian government put the death toll in the country at more than 27,000, with another 1,000 missing.
Some towns still have not been heard from, and elsewhere many bodies remain buried under rubble and mud.
India's death toll of 11,500 included at least 7,000 on the Andamans and Nicobar archipelago.
On one island, the surge of water triggered by Sunday's undersea earthquake killed two-thirds of the population.
The government of the Maldives expressed concern that it still had not heard from 19 inhabited islands, and said there was a real danger some of its low-lying islands could be lost forever.
In Thailand, where more than 1,500 people died, government meteorology officials admitted they played down the expected impact of the earthquake to protect the country's tourist industry.
Rescue workers there yesterday recovered more than 300 bodies on the country's remote Phi Phi island, made famous by the film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Bloated bodies were washed ashore as hopes of finding survivors in the wrecked seafront hotels faded.
In Sri Lanka, as many as 1,700 passengers crammed in a train destined for the city of Galle were feared dead after a wave swept carriages off the rails. More than 18,000 people were reported dead on the island.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the focus now should be on preventing disease, especially malaria and cholera. Dr David Nabarro, WHO head of crisis operations, said: "There is certainly a chance that we could have as many dying from communicable diseases as from the tsunami."
He said hospitals and health services were already overwhelmed and may not be able to cope with people who fall ill with disease.
Aid and relief workers have begun to reach the stricken region and pressure is growing on the UN to take a strong lead in ensuring that the right supplies reach the most needy survivors.
Mr Jan Egeland, the UN's emergency relief co-ordinator, said billions of dollars would be needed to rebuild the shattered countries.
In Thailand, Mr Chcheep Mahachan, who works in the seismological bureau of the country's meteorology department, said it played down the impact of the earthquake because officials were wary about provoking unjustified panic.
"Yes, it's true, a proper warning was not given. If we had given the warning and then it hadn't happened, then it would have been the death of tourism in those areas."
The department did issue a warning of an impending tidal wave but the versions distributed to resorts and towns along the south-west coast underestimated the likely threat.