The Kenyan government issued a tsunami alert on Wednesday night following reports that a powerful sea wave was reported surging towards the East African Coast with potentially devastating force.
Government spokesman Alfred Mutua issued an alert and started evacuating people from beaches along the coastline as the powerful sea wave triggered by an underwater earthquake near Sumatra, in South East Asia, was expected to hit the Kenyan Coast, between 9 p. m. (1800 GMT) and 11 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) last night.
Mutua advised residents along the coastal region to keep off the beaches and remain alert, warning that a tsunami was expected.
"There has been a tsunami recorded in the Indian Ocean. The extent, range and direction of waves are not yet known," Mutua said in a statement.
"People should keep away from the beaches, all boats should be docked and people whose houses face the sea should lock their doors and windows and be on the look out," he said.
Residents in the coastal town of Mombasa said on Thursday that the warning caused panic along the coastline, rekindling memories of a tsunami that hit the region in December 2004.
That disaster left more than 216,000 people dead or missing in 13 Indian Ocean countries, nearly three quarters of the victims in Indonesia.
Kenya's maritime official said the warning came too late for many fishermen who could not vacate from the beaches in time before the tsunami.
"Many fishermen haven't heard of the warning. If it happens, we will have a problem. There is no proper coordination between the authorities in Kenya," said Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the East African Seafarer's Association
A similar warning was also issued in neighboring Tanzania, urging residents living along the coastline and on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba to be vigilant.
"The earthquake has generated a tsunami. It is expected that the tsunami waves will hit Tanzania coastal areas as from 11:30 p.m. ( 2030 GMT) tonight," said a statement from Tanzania's meteorological agency.
The government of Mauritius issued a tsunami alert that was broadcast on radio stations, urging the Indian Ocean Island's inhabitants to keep off beaches at night.
A response committee was formed and residents in some of the most exposed coastal regions were encouraged to gather in designated areas during the night.
Source: Xinhua
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