The Nordic region was in a state of shock and mourning at the weekend as the enormity of the tsunami catastrophe hit home, with almost 5,000 Scandinavian tourists still missing and the death toll feared to reach several thousand.

Although the official numbers of those killed have remained largely static over the weekend, the number of missing has increased while the hopes of finding survivors have declined. Officially 52 Swedes, 21 Norwegians, 14 Finns and 7 Danes has been declared dead, almost all on holiday in Thai beach resorts.