THE Foreign Office today admitted that mistakes were made in its response to the Boxing Day tsunami.
In a joint report with the National Audit Office it said that in immediately after the disaster, emergency hotlines were overwhelmed.
There was also a shortage medical staff on the ground and a rapid response team was sent to the wrong place.
But the report praised the efforts of staff who worked long hours under intense pressure to help Britons caught up in the crisis.
However, it said lessons needed to be learned for dealing with future emergencies.
Despite the criticisms, the NAO said the Foreign Office was still a world leader in responding to emergencies.
