Tsunami Survivor Search Ending

As the official death toll is about to top 150,000 dead, the search for survivors is about to be called off.

Relatives of the missing gave agonizing descriptions of their loved ones on television Sunday, clinging to hopes they hadn't been fatally crushed by rubble or taken by the sea. Officials were pessimistic.

"There is very little chance of finding survivors after seven days," Lamsar Sipahutar, the head of Indonesia's search team. "We are about to stop the search-and-rescue operations. If you survived the earthquake, you probably were killed by tsunami."

Elephants were brought in to help remove debris in the ruined provincial capital of Banda Aceh and in southern Thailand, where resorts were destroyed and thousands killed along a world-famous tourist strip near Phuket island.

I remember when they called off rescue efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11, and how it just tore out the hearts of all involved. But there does come a time when human efforts can no longer make a difference and it is time to put it all into the hands of God. I am sure some will still be found alive amidst the rubble, but this is definitely a time to mourn. And to do what we can to comfort those left behind.