Thousands dead as tidal waves lash S Asia
Sunday 26 December 2004, 17:42 Makka Time, 14:42 GMT
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The most powerful earthquake in 40 years has triggered massive tidal waves that slammed into coastlines across Asia on Sunday, killing thousands of people in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Thailand.
The quake of magnitude 8.9 on the Richter scale first struck at 7.59am (0059 GMT) off the coast of Aceh province on the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra and appeared to swing north into the Andaman islands in the Indian Ocean.
Closeto 2000peopleare so far reported to havebeenkilled in southern India where the tidal waves also swept away boats, homes and vehicles, said Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
Patil said the worst affected area was Tamil Nadu state, where 1625 people are reported to have died, followed by Andhra Pradesh state. Kerala state and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were also hit.
Tamil Nadu’s beaches turned into virtual open-air mortuaries as fishermen’s bodies washed ashore, and retreating waters left behind others killed inland.
Hundredsofpeople died in Tamil Nadu’s capital Madras and hundreds of others in other districts including Cuddalore, Patil said.
Sea water flooded the streets of Cuddalore town, flipping over dozens of cars and leaving some cars perched atop road dividers.
Residents of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh state spoke of four-metre walls of water slamming into the shore.
Walls of water
More than2400 peoplewere killed after the tsunami triggered by the quake struck Sri Lanka, district officials said.
Sri Lanka deployed 20,000 army soldiers in relief and rescue and to assist police to maintain law and order. Military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said 2,425 people were dead in areas under government control.
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Rescue operations are under way |
The worst-hit area appeared to be the tourist region of Sri Lanka’s south and east.
"The president has declared a state of national disaster due to the seriousness of the situation," President Chandrika
Kumaratunga’s office said in a statement.
"President Kumaratunga has appealed to the international
community for emergency assistance," it added.
Source: Aljazeera
