US quake relief doubles to $35m as death toll rises to 68,000

US aid to victims of the earthquake that sent deadly waves crashing onto shores in Asia and Africa has been doubled to $35m (€25.7m) and is likely to be much more in an international aid effort expected to run into the billions.

President George Bush is making a brief statement at his Texas ranch today about the Asian disaster following a regularly scheduled National Security Council meeting, where advisers will update him on relief and recovery work, said White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy.

Duffy declined to say whether the United States was planning to pledge more aid at this time. Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that the United States would be a “major contributor” to an international assistance effort expected to run into the billions for victims of this week’s earthquake and tsunamis, which killed at least 60,000. Fresh reports put the toll at 68,000 and rising.

“As we continue to get our hands around the size of the effort’s needs, that will continue to be addressed and assessed,” Duffy said. “Secretary Powell clearly said that this is just the beginning – this is all preliminary – and the first thing we need to do is get a good assessment of what’s absolutely necessary.”

US Agency for International Development chief Andrew Natsios told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the aid package has drained his organisation’s emergency relief fund, forcing it to ask Congress or the White House for more money.

“We just spent it,” Natsios said. “We’ll be talking to the White House budget office.”

The State Department said yesterday that 12 Americans had died in the disaster - seven in Sri Lanka and five in Thailand. Hundreds of Americans remain missing.