People panic after India issues tsunami alert

Reuters ^ | 12/30/04

[kattracks]

NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Indian government on Thursday issued tsunami alerts for all areas hit by the weekend's killer waves, prompting panicking people to flee the coastlines.

As police sirens blared on beaches in Tamil Nadu, one of the worst-hit states, thousands streamed inland on foot or crammed any vehicle they could find, looking for higher ground. Some shouted: "Waves are coming! Waves are coming!"

But there were no immediate signs of giant waves and the U.S. Geological Survey said it was unaware of any aftershock large enough to trigger a fresh tsunami.

A Home Ministry official said the ministry had issued an alert for all the areas which had been hit earlier,"

"It is for a precautionary measure based on some information we have," the official said.

He gave no details.

"A number of experts outside (the) country are suggesting that another tsunami may hit (the) Indian Ocean today afternoon in the event of an earthquake of high intensity which may happen near (the) Australian region," said a message from the home ministry to state governments.

Police in Tamil Nadu state said that aftershocks in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, near the epicentre of the quake that caused Sunday's tsunami, would "likely" cause high waves and they had evacuated hundreds of residents from some coastal areas.

In the Andaman and Nicobar islands capital, Port Blair, local officials drove through the streets appealing for calm over loudspeakers, saying there was no imminent danger.

"There is no reason to panic," an official in the back of a jeep said through a megaphone. "You can go back to your jobs or your home, wherever you please. There is no imminent danger."

Officials estimate Sunday's tsunami killed at least 13,230 people in India, although only 7,330 deaths have been confirmed. In some areas, whole communities were wiped out.

The waves killed more than 87,000 people from Asia to Africa.

"WE ARE ALL TERRIFIED OF WATER"

Panic was fuelled by one television station that reported a tsunami had hit and showed file footage of large waves.

In Nagappattinam on India's mainland -- where more than 4,000 died on Sunday -- thousands of terrified residents, some carrying their last remaining belongings in suitcases on their heads, ran through the streets and streamed out of town in cars, buses, trucks and tractors.

"It's coming," said Thamil Vanan as he headed for safety carrying his toddler son. "We saw what happened here -- I don't want to stay, I'm not mad."

But some also gathered on bridges to watch for waves.

In Port Blair, most businesses closed for the day.

"Everybody else told to us to run, so we ran." said Sudha Mani, a 30-year-old accountant, as she waited for a bus home.

"We are all terrified of water after what happened."

The island group has been hit by dozens of aftershocks above 5.0 magnitude since Sunday.

[samtheman]

Home Ministry official: "Nevermind."

[sevry]

Kind of cruel. I know the feeling. Californians tended to ignore, put out of their mind, even 5-6 quakes before Loma Prieta. If anyone was watching the great Bay Area series that year get punished from above, they'll remember. And after that, a lot of people got very nervous at a 5.0 quake, which wouldn't have bothered them before. Myself, I got shaken by smaller quakes, literally and emotionally. I can understand people fleeing in panic, after having seen the sea surge on them in a way it had never done before, in their lives, perhaps - and this in monsoon country.

[genefromjersey]

Now imagine the same scenario in California !

We have a tsunami warning system in place,and would probably have several hours warning before the west coast was hit.

Picture the traffic jams.Picture the "last minute folks"-clogging up the roadways.Picture our media-doing their level best to add to the panic.

What do you think ?

Would our casualties be in the thousands, or the tens of thousands ??