Family and friends continue to seek information about an Evanston man missing after the Dec. 26 tsunami struck his vacation resort in Thailand.
Ben Abels, 33, was traveling in Asia with a friend when a wave crushed their bungalow on the small island of Phi Phi, 50 miles off the coast of Phuket, Thailand.
The friend, Libby North, who is currently recovering in a Bangkok hospital, was trapped underwater and did not see what happened to Abels.
“Since that day, there has been no word about Ben’s whereabouts or condition,” said longtime family friend Todd Musburger. “People remain hopeful, but it’s obviously a very grim situation.”
Abels’ parents, Bob and Hope Abels, along with Abels’ older brother, David, spoke at a Friday night prayer service for Abels at Temple Beth Emet, 1224 Dempster St., Musburger said.
“It was very touching, very moving,” he said.
He said David Abels may go to Thailand in person to seek more information.
Ben Abels, a graduate of Evanston Township High School, was making his last stop on a three-week trip that included stops in Hong Kong and Cambodia. The trip was Abels’ first to Southeast Asia.
“Ben is a very adventurous person,” Musburger said. “Travel is a big part of his life.”
Abels was due to return to the United States the day the tsunami struck, Musburger said.
The family, who held a press conference last week to appeal for overseas aid in finding tsunami victims, has distributed descriptions and photos of Abels throughout Thailand.
“Many good samaritans have helped out all over the globe, but there’s no solid information at this point,” Musburger said.
North, who graduated from Miami University of Ohio with Ben Abels, lost a hand and suffered a crushed leg after being trapped underwater. She remembers very little about the disaster, Musburger said.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who also is a family friend, has been in regular contact with the family and is doing what she can to aid their search, said spokesman Nadeam Elshami.
Elshami said the U.S. Department of State continues to search for all missing Americans.
“They could be at hospitals, hurt,” he said. “They could be at a remote village. There are many ways to be missing. The most important thing for the families is to find answers as quickly as possible.”
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