Sri Lanka cautions residents after Indian warning
The Sri Lankan military told residents of coastal areas not panic today after neighbouring India issued a fresh tsunami alert, but the government advised them to move to higher ground as a precaution.
India said its warning was issued following information that several aftershocks in the region had pushed up the water level.
An estimated 5.7 magnitude underwater earthquake was recorded by the Hong Kong observatory at 5.18am (9.18pm Irish time yesterday) off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Other temblors were felt in Thailand and Burma.
“We are asking residents to be alert and not to panic,” military spokesman, Brig. Daya Ratnayake said.
But Thilak Ranavirajah, the chief of the government’s relief department, cautioned “all people along the coast to be vigilant and move to safer places”.
A fire engine fitted with loudspeakers told residents to leave Tangalle, on the southern coast, or to move to higher ground.
