Posted on 12/26/2004 9:53:01 AM PST by sully777
NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) - Powerful tsunamis that roared across southern Asia into the Indian Ocean Sunday smashed fishing boats and flooded low-lying areas along the east African coast, 3,728 miles to the west.
At least one person was killed and others feared missing on Kenya's coast, where thousands of tourists are visiting for the Christmas holidays.
The surge of water also destroyed dozens of boats and forced authorities to close the beaches, police said.
The biggest earthquake in 40 years hit southern Asia and triggered a massive wall of water that raced across the Indian Ocean, bringing devastation and death to Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia. Nearly 8,000 were believed killed.
In countries stretching from the Horn of Africa, down to Tanzania and out into the Indian Ocean, lowland flooding and irregularly fast tidal changes were reported. Tourists and residents were told to stay away from the beaches.
In the Kenyan resort town of Malindi, at least one swimmer died and three others were believed drowned, District Commissioner Mobeya Mogaka said. It was not immediately clear whether the swimmer was Kenyan or a foreign visitor.
Dozens of fishing boats were smashed when the tidal surge struck Malindi, Mogaka said.
Earlier, resorts closed their beaches because of the unusual tidal movements.
"We have had four high tides and four low tides in the last six hours," a spokesman for the Turtle Bay resort in Malindi told Reuters.
FISH ON RUNWAY
On the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island archipelago of Zanzibar, guests at two beach hotels were moved to hotels further inland, officials said. Asian Quake, Tsunami Death Toll Approaches 9,500
Two U.S. Airlines' Woes Ground More Holiday Flights
USGS: Warnings Could Have Saved Thousands in Asia
MORE
In the Seychelles, at least nine people were reported missing after a 2-meter (6-foot) surge flooded low roads and knocked out power in hundreds of homes. At the airport, fire brigades were forced to wash dozens of fish off of the runway each time high tides sent water crashing onto the airfield.
The government declared Monday a public holiday to allow for a cleanup.
In Somalia, strong waves and winds capsized boats and kept fishermen in port.
"I do not know what to expect from the ocean," said a Somali fisherman in the coastal town of Adale, 35 miles north of Mogadishu.
Mauritius seemed largely untouched by the post-quake surge, although minor flooding struck one of the outlying islands in the archipelago, Rodrigues. On Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, residents had seen no ill effects.
Glad you are safe FRiend.
Any idea on damage at our airbase at Diego Garcia
Now I know why Diego was picked by the UK and leased by the US. Also know why lefties want the island back.
Asian Tsunami Relief donations. (Vanity thread list)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1309697/posts?page=25
A list of organizations you can give to help!
How do people who have no medical skills help out in a situation. I know people can donate but is there any way for people to come there and help.
I dunno. Not sure with the breakdown in food and clean water distribution systems that more persons over there would help.
I'd suggest phoning local charities (Salvation Army, etc.) or large churches and asking them, they'd probably know best. Another possibility would be phoning the Peace Corp or the State Dept office.
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