The tragedy in southern Asia continues to build as the death toll, as expected, passed 100,000 people and has now surpassed 120,000. While many countries bordering the Indian Ocean have suffered, Indonesia perhaps bore the worst with more than 45,000 dead, particularly in Aceh province near the epicenter of the quake. This DCist photo was taken this morning outside the Indonesian Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue at 21st Street NW. A news crew was preparing to set up a shot on the front steps, which has become an impromptu public memorial where people can leave flowers. The AP, via WJLA, reports that the public can sign a book of condolences at the embassy this afternoon from 2-4 p.m.

The Post reports that the embassy has become a “nucleus of anguish,” a place where Indonesian expatriates and strangers alike can mourn together. Between 1,500 and 3,000 Indonesians live in the Washington area.

When we passed the Indian Embassy across the way this morning, there were no flowers on the chancery steps, though some wilted roses were present at the feet of the Gandhi statue in the triangle park across the street.

As has been mentioned before, there are many ways to help tsunami victims. The Post says that the Internet has been a critical resource for pulling in donations quickly. To help, Google’s tsunami page has links to a number of relief organizations and to the tsunami blog, which has fast become a clearing house of disaster-related information.