By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Sri Lankan community in St. Louis is appealing to the public for help after a tidal wave killed thousands on the island nation Sunday.
The death toll in Sri Lanka alone has reached nearly 25,000.
Chandra Gamlath is president of the Sri Lankan Association in St. Louis. He says there's no way his tiny nation can cope with its largest natural disaster in modern history.
"We would like to get money, because that's the easiest thing to disburse," Gamlath. "And we cannot accept clothes, or things like that because the freight costs are prohibitive. And there is a request for medical supplies."
Gamlath says he's heard from family members on the west coast of Sri Lanka who survived the disaster. But he has second-hand reports of friends who've lost loved ones.
To assist in the relief effort, you can visit www.stlsrilankan.org, or call 636-329-0548.