TSUNAMIS HIT SOUTH ASIA
(28 December 2004)

A series of massive tsunamis, caused by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean, wreaked havoc in South Asia on 26th December 2004 (Boxing Day). Sri Lanka is hardest hit with thousands feared dead and countless others left homeless. More than 18,700 people died in Sri Lanka, more than 4,400 in India and more than 1,500 in Thailand, with numbers expected to rise.

Scores were also killed in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives. The giant waves raced nearly 3,000 miles to east Africa, causing deaths in Somalia, Tanzania and Seychelles. While the vast majority of victims were locals from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and the Maldives, hundreds were foreigners, enjoying Christmas in the sun at the busiest time of the year for the region's tourist trade. In Sri Lanka alone, the government said on Monday 200 foreign tourists were feared dead. Nearly 1,000 people died in Thailand and an official there estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of them were holidaymakers.

And the toll was expected to continue to mount. A police official said 8,000 people were missing and possibly dead in India's remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located just north of Sumatra. So far, only 90 people were confirmed dead in the archipelago of 30 inhabited islands. The Indonesian vice president estimated that up to 25,000 could be dead on Aceh's western coastlines, bringing the country's potential toll up to 50,000.

Like other countries in the region, Maldives was hit by a series of tidal waves on, following the earthquake in the Indian Ocean. The capital, Male, was badly flooded but the airport has now reopened. There appears to have been serious damage to a number of islands, including resort islands, although the picture is unclear because of problems with communications.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said on 26 December: 'For all the huge advances in the control of our lives through science and technology an earthquake on this scale is truly humbling as well as profoundly tragic for everyone involved.

'Messages of condolence from the British Government have been sent to the governments of India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives along with offers of practical assistance. These are being co-ordinated between the FCO, DFID and MOD.

'As soon as the news came through in the small hours of this morning our emergency plans for such as situation were activated. In London Consular officials were called back from leave, regional Rapid Deployment Teams in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur put on stand-by. Our Ambassador in Thailand, David Fall and staff are on their way to Phuket. Every effort is being made by British High Commission Staff in Columbo, Sri Lanka (which also covers the Maldives) to provide assistance.

'Our staff in London are in close touch with Association of British Travel Agents and the airlines. For the tens of thousands of British tourists in South East Asia and their relatives and friends here this will I know be a very worrying time. We are doing everything we can to assist but the disruption to communication in the worst affected areas is inevitably making it difficult to confirm exactly the situation on the ground.'

While expressing its profound sympathy and deep sorrow to the victims of the quake that hit South Asia today, the Hindu Forum of Britain announced the setting up of a helpline for information and assistance. Latest reports indicate that the quake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale triggered tidal waves (tsunami) of over 10 meters that swept into Indonesia, over the coast of Sri Lanka and India and along the southern Thai tourist island of Phuket, leaving behind it a trial of utter devastation with thousands feared dead.

Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of Hindu Forum of Britain said, "The Hindu community in Britain are deeply shocked by this tragedy. Many from the community have loved ones in the area of devastation, and our prayers and thoughts are with all of them at this crucial time. We have set up a helpline number to pass information and provide chaplaincy services to UK Hindus who may have relatives affected by the disaster."

Appealing to the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development (DFID), Kallidai added, "We ask DFID to show leadership by rallying a support package that can make a significant impact on those who are most affected. Aid is required urgently for medical care as well as for the rehabilitation of those who have lost their homes and properties."

"The news of the earthquake and the subsequent tidal wave has come as a shock to the whole community," commented Ishwer Tailor MBE President of the Hindu Forum Britain. "The HFB asks the governments of the South Asian region to come together to form a major disaster task force and set up monitoring stations so that such calamities may be avoided or their impact significantly reduced in the future."

H H Swami Nirlipitananda, Spiritual Commissioner for HFB commented, "The tragedy that has befallen thousands of people in South Asia is a cause of great sorrow to us all. Our prayers are with their families and we hope that the world can rise to the challenge of rebuilding the lives of those who have been affected by this calamity."

HELPLINE NUMBERS

The UK Foreign Office has set up an emergency helpline for those worried about relatives in the wake of the quake disaster - the number is 0207 008 0000.

Click on www.fco.gov.uk for latest advice on travel to affected parts of South Asia.