Tsunami alert sparks panic
Andaman and Nicobar islands and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala were on Wednesday put on the edge when a tsunami alert was sounded by the Centre following a massive earthquake off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatr...
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Andaman and Nicobar islands and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala were on Wednesday put on the edge when a tsunami alert was sounded by the Centre following a massive earthquake off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island.
However, the tsunami red alert issued for coastal states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was withdrawn late in the night .
A powerful earthquake of 8.2 magnitude struck Indonesia’s Sumatra region on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings in the Indian Ocean, sparking panic in coastal areas across Southeast Asia and causing at least seven deaths.
Indonesia issued two tsunami warnings, one after the first quake, and the second after a smaller tremor a few hours later in the same area. But, the Indonesian warnings and most others in the region had been lifted by 1600 GMT.
With memories of unprecedented death and devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami still fresh, Union home ministry issued the tsunami “red alert” to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where people nearer the sea had been asked to move to safer places, and asked coastal states to take precautionary measures like asking fishermen not to venture out in the sea.
Alert was also sounded in Car Nicobar, Katchal, Hut Bay, Nancowrie and Campbell Bay island which bore the brunt of the December 2004 tsunami. Evacuation of people from six coastal districts of Orissa has begun, said a report from Bhubaneshwar.
“We have asked collectors of coastal districts to take all possible precautionary measures and ready rescue teams for moving people from low-lying areas to safe places,” revenue minister D Prasad Rao said in Hyderabad, adding fishermen had been asked not to venture into the sea.
District administrations across Kerala had been alerted, but there was no immediate plan to issue a warning to people in the long coastal stretch.
Police in all coastal areas of Tamil Nadu government, one of the worst hit states in the tsunami three years ago, were put on high alert but no official tsunami warning was issued in the state.
However, the tsunami red alert issued for coastal states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was withdrawn late in the night .
A powerful earthquake of 8.2 magnitude struck Indonesia’s Sumatra region on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings in the Indian Ocean, sparking panic in coastal areas across Southeast Asia and causing at least seven deaths.
Indonesia issued two tsunami warnings, one after the first quake, and the second after a smaller tremor a few hours later in the same area. But, the Indonesian warnings and most others in the region had been lifted by 1600 GMT.
With memories of unprecedented death and devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami still fresh, Union home ministry issued the tsunami “red alert” to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where people nearer the sea had been asked to move to safer places, and asked coastal states to take precautionary measures like asking fishermen not to venture out in the sea.
Alert was also sounded in Car Nicobar, Katchal, Hut Bay, Nancowrie and Campbell Bay island which bore the brunt of the December 2004 tsunami. Evacuation of people from six coastal districts of Orissa has begun, said a report from Bhubaneshwar.
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“We will be keeping a close watch on the sea for sometime and have backup ready,” a senior police official in Port Blair said. Coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh were also put on alert following tsunami threat as authorities geared up to evacuate people from vulnerable areas.“We have asked collectors of coastal districts to take all possible precautionary measures and ready rescue teams for moving people from low-lying areas to safe places,” revenue minister D Prasad Rao said in Hyderabad, adding fishermen had been asked not to venture into the sea.
District administrations across Kerala had been alerted, but there was no immediate plan to issue a warning to people in the long coastal stretch.
Police in all coastal areas of Tamil Nadu government, one of the worst hit states in the tsunami three years ago, were put on high alert but no official tsunami warning was issued in the state.
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