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Biggest earthquake in 40 years hits Southeast Asia
Asia quake leaves 500 feared dead
Tidal waves hit Sri Lanka, Thailand
Sunday, December 26, 2004 Posted: 2:02 AM EST (0702 GMT)
(CNN) -- About 500 people are feared dead after the largest earthquake to shake the planet in nearly 40 years jolted Southeast Asia Sunday.
Casualty figures are yet to be confirmed, but initial reports say tidal waves have killed as many as 300 people in Sri Lanka, and about 20 in southern India.
In addition, up to 200 fishermen are missing at sea off the coast of India, officials have told reporters.
Flash flooding in Indonesia has claimed almost 100 lives, and more deaths are feared in Thailand after huge waves hit the popular tourist resort of Phuket.
The reports suggest the likely total death toll in the region is likely to exceed 500.
The quake prompted a series of powerful aftershocks and tidal waves in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia's Sumatra Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center.
A relief official said more than 300 people are feared dead after massive waves known as tsunami struck Sri Lanka, The Associated Press reported.
The death toll has reached 94 in Indonesia's Aceh province after flooding from the earthquake hit the region, hospital and local officials told AP.
On southern India's east coast, at least 18 people died in the tidal waves, police and officials said.
In Thailand, an official said four tourists were killed in the southern tourist resort of Phuket as a result of the quake.
The initial quake, measuring 8.5 in magnitude, struck off the western coast of Sumatra around 7 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) and was followed by at least six moderate to strong aftershocks in the following hours.
The 8.5 quake is the strongest temblor to hit since 1965, according to geophysicist Julie Martinez with the NEIC, which monitors worldwide earthquakes.
In Indonesia's restive Aceh province, early radio reports said nine people died in a flash flood following the earthquake.
"I saw four bodies of kids and five bodies of adults," one resident identified as Mustofa told El Shinta radio, agencies reported. But the toll quickly rose during the day to be near 100.
CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman in Bangkok said eye-witnesses spoke of a "wall of water" bearing down on the beachfronts of the popular resort of Phuket as at least two waves struck.
Raman said Thai officials were evacuating 10,000 people from the area, and there reportedly was "untold devastation".
From Sri Lanka, journalist Iqbal Athas told CNN that waves reportedly 40 feet (about 10 meters) high struck the eastern and southern coasts of the island. He said that along with the heavy loss of human life, there had been "severe damage" along the coastline.
In India, the confirmed casualties and the missing toll were reported from three coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh state, Chief Secretary Mohan Kanda told reporters.
He said the missing fishermen were out in the sea when the tidal wave hit the area. "I have alerted the administration in nine of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts," Kanda said, AP reported.
Thousands of people fled their homes in the Aceh provincial capital Banda Aceh when the tremor struck, the official Antara news agency said.
Residents in North Sumatra's capital, Medan, reported a strong tremor that caused panic among residents.
"It was quite strong. We ran out of our houses but we're now back inside," said one resident.
The tremor could be felt as far away as Singapore and India.
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale rattled Indonesia's eastern Papua province in November, killing 29 people in the coastal town of Nabire.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands, lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire where plate boundaries intersect and volcanoes regularly erupt.
Tidal waves hit Sri Lanka, Thailand
Sunday, December 26, 2004 Posted: 2:02 AM EST (0702 GMT)
(CNN) -- About 500 people are feared dead after the largest earthquake to shake the planet in nearly 40 years jolted Southeast Asia Sunday.
Casualty figures are yet to be confirmed, but initial reports say tidal waves have killed as many as 300 people in Sri Lanka, and about 20 in southern India.
In addition, up to 200 fishermen are missing at sea off the coast of India, officials have told reporters.
Flash flooding in Indonesia has claimed almost 100 lives, and more deaths are feared in Thailand after huge waves hit the popular tourist resort of Phuket.
The reports suggest the likely total death toll in the region is likely to exceed 500.
The quake prompted a series of powerful aftershocks and tidal waves in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia's Sumatra Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center.
A relief official said more than 300 people are feared dead after massive waves known as tsunami struck Sri Lanka, The Associated Press reported.
The death toll has reached 94 in Indonesia's Aceh province after flooding from the earthquake hit the region, hospital and local officials told AP.
On southern India's east coast, at least 18 people died in the tidal waves, police and officials said.
In Thailand, an official said four tourists were killed in the southern tourist resort of Phuket as a result of the quake.
The initial quake, measuring 8.5 in magnitude, struck off the western coast of Sumatra around 7 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) and was followed by at least six moderate to strong aftershocks in the following hours.
The 8.5 quake is the strongest temblor to hit since 1965, according to geophysicist Julie Martinez with the NEIC, which monitors worldwide earthquakes.
In Indonesia's restive Aceh province, early radio reports said nine people died in a flash flood following the earthquake.
"I saw four bodies of kids and five bodies of adults," one resident identified as Mustofa told El Shinta radio, agencies reported. But the toll quickly rose during the day to be near 100.
CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman in Bangkok said eye-witnesses spoke of a "wall of water" bearing down on the beachfronts of the popular resort of Phuket as at least two waves struck.
Raman said Thai officials were evacuating 10,000 people from the area, and there reportedly was "untold devastation".
From Sri Lanka, journalist Iqbal Athas told CNN that waves reportedly 40 feet (about 10 meters) high struck the eastern and southern coasts of the island. He said that along with the heavy loss of human life, there had been "severe damage" along the coastline.
In India, the confirmed casualties and the missing toll were reported from three coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh state, Chief Secretary Mohan Kanda told reporters.
He said the missing fishermen were out in the sea when the tidal wave hit the area. "I have alerted the administration in nine of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts," Kanda said, AP reported.
Thousands of people fled their homes in the Aceh provincial capital Banda Aceh when the tremor struck, the official Antara news agency said.
Residents in North Sumatra's capital, Medan, reported a strong tremor that caused panic among residents.
"It was quite strong. We ran out of our houses but we're now back inside," said one resident.
The tremor could be felt as far away as Singapore and India.
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale rattled Indonesia's eastern Papua province in November, killing 29 people in the coastal town of Nabire.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands, lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire where plate boundaries intersect and volcanoes regularly erupt.
Jesus. Having experienced a 7.3, I can hardly imagine what an 8.5 would be like. And on a personal note, several of my friends are vacationing in Thailand right now. I sure hope they're alright...
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