The quake, which measured 9.0 points on the Richter scale, shifted tectonic plates beneath the Indian Ocean's bottom by 30 meters, thereby changing the location of islands near Sumatra to some extent, US seismologists say.
Moreover, it is believed that the tremor caused the entire planet to vibrate along its axis, changing the inclination of the terrestrial axis and increasing the planet's rotate speed by three microseconds.
The governments of stricken countries estimate the eventual body count at 100,000.
Children account for nearly one-third of all victims. Thousands of people are reported missing, with millions more losing their homes.
Stricken countries now face the threat of all-out epidemics in the disaster area. World Health Organization (WHO) experts believe that such epidemics may claim just about as many lives as the tsunami did.
German insurance companies estimate total losses at more than $13 billion.
The largest and most expensive international rescue operation is now unfolding. More than 20 countries of the world have promised to render relief aid worth over $60 billion.
The official Sri Lanka body count was 21,715 by dawn December 29, a spokesperson for the country natural-calamity center noted.
A tsunami hit the island 90 minutes after the earthquake, depriving over 1.5 million people of their homes. President Chandrika Kumaratunga proclaimed Sri Lanka as a nationwide disaster area, calling on the international community to promptly render emergency relief aid.
Rescue teams of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry are also working in the disaster area. Talking to RIA Novosti, Viktor Beltsov, who serves as the Emergency Situations Minister's public-relations adviser, noted that such operations also involved a Bo-105 light-weight helicopter (that had been flown in from Moscow). Moreover, two of the Ministry's aircraft have delivered humanitarian relief aid, i.e. 110 large tents and 2,200 blankets, to the island. One of them has already brought the first group of Russian tourists back to Moscow.
