updated version One more Malaysian who was working at the World Trade Center in New York City has been confirmed to be safe but efforts are ongoing to locate at least another 13 Malaysian employees in the building, said a foreign ministry official today.

According to the spokesperson for Wisma Putra's 24-hour operation and inquiry centre, an additional six Malaysian employees have been identified, one of whom was the eighth person successfully contacted by the consulate in New York.

However, the eight are currently stranded in the US as international flights to and from the country have been cancelled following the closure of all airports, added the spokesperson.

The number of Malaysians known to be working at the WTC is expected to increase as more information is made known by their relatives and families who have been relentlessly calling the Wisma Putra's operation centre.

"However, the latest figures cannot be released at this stage," said the spokesperson.

Yesterday, malaysiakini quoted Malaysian consul-general in New York, Ahmad Shahizan Abdul Samad, as saying that seven out of 15 Malaysians working at the WTC were safe while the rest were still unaccounted for.

The exact number of Malaysians working in the building remains unclear as figures from the New York consul-general's office and earlier estimates from the Malaysian embassy in Washington contradict.

Discrepancy

Meanwhile, when malaysiakini contacted Shahizan in New York at 5.30pm today, (5.30am local time) he said he was not aware of the increase in the headcount as given by Wisma Putra.

He explained that there could be a discrepancy in the figures as he had already updated and submitted them to Wisma Putra several times since the incident took place on Tuesday.

"The figures may have overlapped and I shall clarify with them," said Shahizan.

He did not rule out the possibility that Wisma Putra may have a different list as it has been receiving mostly local calls while the consul-general's office in New York specifically dealt with Malaysians staying there.

Shahizan also released his list of those confirmed safe, four of them men and three, women.

He added that he witnessed the horrifying scene as he had rushed to the Second Avenue, "a few kilometres away" from the WTC, after he was told that two jetliners plunged into the 110-storey WTC within a span of 18 minutes.

"I saw smoke coming out from the top of the building and heard loud explosions," he said.

No casualty

He urged the public to be supportive of any effort to ensure that their fellow Malaysians will reach home safe and sound. No Malaysian victim or casualty has been reported thus far, he added.

Only 9,000 Malaysians staying in New York City have registered at the consul-general, with an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 unregistered Malaysians.

The WTC collapsed after two hijacked commercial jetliners slammed into its twin towers early morning (local time) on Sept 11. The tragedy was believed to have caused thousands of deaths, including about 400 firefighters and police personnel.

The seven confirmed safe by the Malaysian consul-general in New York are:

Chuah Chai Chuan, 55, occupation unknown

Gerard Kim Siang Yeo, 45, consultant

Ng Boon See, 38, sales director

Alan Ong See Inn @ Ong See Ann, 54, V-P, Overseas Union Bank

Lok Poh Choo, 36, banking officer

Wong Moi Hiang, 38, credit administration officer

Chew Eu Leen, 25, investment banking analyst