27 December 2006

A new government website will be launched, enabling overseas Britons to let relatives know if they are safe after disasters.

During the Boxing Day tsunami of 2005, thousands of UK residents were involved, many with no way of informing their family back home of their circumstances.

The new online portal, launched by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, allows those affected to register their safety, reports the Times.

Additionally, officials hope that the website will save around £30,000 per year as staff will have to handle fewer enquiries.

However, it is expected that it will cost around £60,000 to create the service.

According to a report in the Times, the hunt for UK residents lasted for 47 weeks in the wake of the 2004 disaster, with five people still unaccounted for.

Neil Thewsey, a British detective, remarked: "After this past week I regret there is realistically nowhere else for us to look. If there was we would carry on."

© Adfero Ltd

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