The fate of thousands of foreign tourists vacationing in Southeast Asia remains unclear, a day after massive tsunamis swept across coastal resorts in the region.

Southeast Asia is at the height of its tourist season, and tens of thousands of foreigners from Europe, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Mexico, and a number of other countries were on holiday there.

European governments say hundreds of citizens have been listed as dead or missing. 

In Sri Lanka, the country with the highest death toll so far, authorities say at least 70 tourists died. 

Thai officials say they cannot yet estimate how many visitors are dead or missing, but the country has offered free flights home for survivors.

Charter flights are leaving Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India as part of an effort to evacuate survivors.

Foreign embassies have sent staff to the affected areas to help in rescue efforts.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, Reuters.