A young Bermudian who attends college in Oklahoma City is appealing to the Island for help as the city buries its baby children killed in last week's bomb blast.

Miss Shacolbi Smith, 24, who graduates on May 6 from Mid-America Bible College, said the existing Feed the Children Relief Fund will use money it receives to help pay funeral expenses for children killed in the tragedy.

The death toll from the Wednesday morning truck bombing neared 100 yesterday, 12 of them children. More than 100 others were still missing, including up to 30 more children.

The daughter of Mrs. Lynette Khaleed of Devonshire, Miss Smith graduated from Berkeley Institute and served with Bermuda Police as a cadet and officer from 1987 to 1991.

She attends the Bible college with another Bermudian, 25-year-old Lisa Simmons.

Miss Smith works part-time at a day care with connections to the one that was crushed inside the twisted hulk of the building. "There's a lot of crying going on right now,'' she said. "I know Bermuda's heart is big, and the support will be greatly appreciated.'' The address for the Feed the Children Relief Fund is P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, Ok. 73101.

Miss Smith, who lives about 20 minutes away from the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in downtown Oklahoma City, was in her kitchen when the explosion occurred.

Her trash compactor was operating at the time of the explosion. Although she heard the blast, it was not until her mother telephoned a few minutes later to make sure she was alright that she knew what had happened.

Mrs. Khaleed, who babysits in her home during the day, saw the first television bulletin about the disaster. "Anything about Oklahoma, my ears stick right out,'' she said. "I was really worried.'' The massive explosion could have been a much closer call for Miss Smith. She had an appointment last week just a block away from the federal building, but officials had telephoned her and asked her to come earlier, which she did. "I just thank God for that,'' she said.

Everywhere in the city, "people are missing friends'', Miss Smith said. Mr.

Wes Butler, a friend of hers since she arrived in Oklahoma City in 1991, lost his cousin in the blast.

Area residents are flying coloured ribbons to show their feelings about the tragedy, and Miss Smith encouraged Bermudians to do the same. "Yesterday, a national day of mourning, was a day for black ribbons. Purple ribbons are to remember the children killed, blue for the adults killed, and yellow for the missing. Green is for prayer, and red for the love of Christian fellowship and the blood of Jesus,'' she said.

Miss Smith returns to Bermuda for the summer on May 13, after graduating with a major in behavioural science and a minor in theology. If she can find a summer job and save up money, she plans to return to Oklahoma to continue her studies and make the state capital her home.

She loves the Bible belt and said the act of terrorism was completely out of keeping with character of the state. "It's so peaceful,'' she said. "I have never heard a gunshot here.

"When I come home, I'm going to feel like I'm leaving my family here,'' she said.