Mozambican government on Wednesdaydonated 100,000 US dollars to the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis that have devastated parts of south Asia.

A statement from the government said the disaster reminded Mozambicans of the tragedies they have suffered, such as the catastrophic floods of 2000 in the southern and central regions ofthe country, and of the international solidarity from which Mozambique benefit.

Describing the 100,000 dollars as a "symbolic" amount, the government said it was granting the money in response to the appeal launched by the International Federation of the Red Cross.

It called on Mozambican citizens and institutions to contributeas far as they could to the relief efforts, in a "humanitarian gesture characteristic of the Mozambican people."

The earthquake, which struck off the coast of Sumatra on Sunday,was measured at 8.7 on the Richter scale.

It unleashed gigantic waves, known as tsunamis, that not only smashed into Indonesia and the nearby countries of Malaysia and Thailand, but traveled across the Indian Ocean to devastate the coasts of Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives. The waves even reached the east African coast, causing over 100 deaths in Somalia.

The confirmed death toll is well over 80,000, and the Red Crossfears that it will be over 100,000.