With some 1,000 bodies found on a beach north of Phuket, Thailand's death toll in earthquake- triggered tsunamis could rise beyond 2,000, Deputy Interior Minister Sutham Saengpratoom said Tuesday.
"On Khao Lak alone, there are more than 1,000 bodies still unretrieved. Altogether from our visual estimate the death toll could rise beyond 2,000," Sutham, who flew over Khao Lak beach on Monday, told reporters on Tuesday.
Among the dead in the massive wave caused by the world's biggest earthquake in 40 years in southern Thailand were more than 700 foreign tourists, according to the deputy interior minister.
Earlier in the day the Thai Interior Ministry said the death toll from the tidal waves had risen to 918 and the number of the injuries to almost 7,400.
Many of the foreign tourists were spending their Christmas vacation in Thailand's southwestern coast that is famous for idyllic scenery.