New Delhi, Jan. 5 (PTI): Helped by nature and luck the endangered aborigines of Andaman and Nicobar islands survived the December 26 tidal fury which wiped away thousands of people in south and south-east Asia.

The worst-hit islands of Nicobar and Car Nicobar consists of the Nicobarese who are the largest Scheduled Tribe in the Union Territory, according to an official release.

The Nicobarese, 3000 of whom are still missing, have taken the brunt of the tsunami most due to its geographical location.

The southern part of Car Nicobar island, inhabited by the Mongolian-origin primitive tribe of Shompen, who were feared to have been hit badly by the tidal waves due to its proximity to Sumatra which was the epicentre of the massive earthquake, have now been confirmed safe by-and-large after an aerial survey, the release said.

The tribe, scattered over 17 villages with a total population of 398 (254 males, 144 females), managed to survive the tsunami as they had taken shelter in the forests of the biosphere reserves which acted as a shield against the high waves.

The Negrito-origin Andamanese, who inhabit the Strait islands in Rangat tehsil, with a population of 43 (24 males, 19 females) have been brought to safety to Port Blair and would require rehabilitation, it said.

The Jarawas, the most primitive of all the tribes to inhabit the chain of islands and classified as a heritage tribe, have also escaped the worst of the disaster since they live deep into the jungles on relatively high land in the middle and southern parts of the Andaman islands.

A total of 240 of them have settled in six villages of the Andaman district.

The Onges population of 96 persons of Port Blair tehsil of the Andaman district, living in the northern areas are naturally protected from the tsunami. An aerial survey have confirmed that they are safe and have taken refuge in the forests of the region.

Another primitive tribe, the Sentinelese, who are hostile to outsiders and have been counted from a distance during the 2001 census have also been sighted during the aerial survey and are safe, the release said.

Andaman and Nicobar islands, with a total population of 3,56,152 as on March 1, 2001, today continued to be rocked with the aftershocks of the deep sea quake.