Several Swedes were dead, 800 others still missing in Thailand, and the number of dead followingthe massive undersea earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scaleand resulting tsunamis along South Asia's coasts continues to rise,Radio Sweden reported on Monday.

The latest estimates are that over 22,000 have perished in the region.

The Swedish Foreign ministry confirmed that two Swedes are among the dead in Thailand. The pan-Nordic SOS emergency center inCopenhagen reported that 7 Swedes died.

One Swedish newspaper, Expressen, quoted a foreign ministry source as saying that "between 20 and 50" Swedes were feared dead,but this could not be confirmed.

Hundreds of Scandinavians are reported to have injuries rangingfrom light cuts and abrasions to those in critical condition.

Some 800 Swedes are still unaccounted for on the island of Phuket in Thailand, a popular holiday destination.

Swedish tour operators which had flown some 1,100 Swedes into the Khao Lak resort north of Phuket, said they have information onthe whereabouts of only around 400 holidaymakers.

The Swedish embassy in Thailand has set up a provisionally crisis center in Phuket to help Swedes in the area.

The Swedish church in Bangkok is also organizing care for Swedes in Thailand.

Sweden's ambassador to Thailand, Jonas Hafstroem, said that he was "shaken" after visiting injured Swedes in hospital and "fearedthat many had died", but said it was too early to say how many.

Up to 15,000 to 20,000 Swedes could have been holidaying in thevast region affected by the floods over Christmas, he said.