Cable & Wireless is donating $1m (£520,751) to the tsunami disaster relief in the Maldives.

The UK telco has provided telecoms services in the Maldives since the 1970s. The money will be used to support the agencies currently working in the Maldives as well as providing food and medical help.

Said C&W chief exec Francesco Caio in a stock exchange statement: "We hope our donation can make a difference to those whose lives have been devastated by this disaster. Our prayers are with them.

"Much of the international aid effort has understandably been focused on Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, but the damage to Maldives infrastructure has also been catastrophic and the country needs urgent support."

As well as the cash donation, C&W engineers are also working to restore the communications networks that were hit when the Asian tsunami hit the Maldives.

According to the latest Government figures, 82 people have been killed in the Maldives and another 26 are missing.

Yesterday, seven BT engineers flew out to Indonesia to help restore communications in the disaster-hit country. ®

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