Aid workers are rushing to prevent disease outbreaks among millions of survivors from Sunday's tsunami in South Asia, as the death toll approaches 125,000.
Indonesia alone has reported 80,000 deaths. But Indonesia's Health Minister (Siti Fadilah Supari) warned today (Friday) the country's death toll could climb to more than 100,000 as more bodies are found in the country's most remote areas.
Sri Lanka's tsunami death toll has climbed past 28,000, while fatalities have also been recorded in India, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Maldives, Tanzania, Somalia, Kenya and the Seychelles.
United Nations relief coordinator Jan Egeland says illnesses like cholera, typhoid and malaria could kill as many people as the tsunami itself. He says millions of people are without safe drinking water and sanitation.
The World Health Organization has already reported a rise in diarrhea and respiratory disease in children in the affected region.
The tsunami was set off by a huge 9.0 magnitude earthquake near the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Sunday. A 6.3 magnitude aftershock hit the same area today -- the strongest of numerous quakes to hit the region in the past five days.
New Year's celebrations across southern Asia have been canceled or significantly curtailed out of respect for those killed in the tsunami that devastated the region.
Thailand called off a massive party in Bangkok that was to have featured Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams. Bangkok urged people to attend religious services instead.
Malaysia banned fireworks displays and public concerts as a sign of mourning, while Singapore chose not to broadcast New Year's festivities on television.
The Australian city of Sydney plans to hold its New Year's festivities as scheduled, but has urged revelers to give generously to a fund benefiting tsunami survivors.