Official Death Toll of Tsunami at 2,000

The discovery of 47 decomposing bodies near a refugee center pushed to 2,000 the official death toll from giant waves that thrashed Papua New Guinea. The figure was not expected to change significantly because rescue officials believe that they have accounted for nearly all of the missing, government spokesman Chris Hawkins said. Emergency workers completed a head count of 10,063 in refugee villages in the disaster area, Hawkins said in Brisbane, Australia. That count exceeded the number of people who the government said were in the area when the tsunami struck July 17. Hawkins said the discrepancy occurred because the government had underestimated population growth.