2ND LEAD

Fizzled tsunami leaves two dead during evacuation

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 March 2005, 20:08 GMT]
So far, there is no indication of unusual wave activity in the sea said TamilNet correspondent for Batticaloa who visited a coastal part of the eastern town around 3 AM Tuesday. A boy was killed in a an accident involving a lorry in Mavadippalli and an old women died while fleeing in Kalmunai, according to initial casuality reports from Amparai. First "Tsunami" wave reached Colombo at about 1am (local time) and is less than one foot (10") in height according to information received by US NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency) measured at location with coordinates 6-59N 79-51E in Colombo.

Batticaloa:
Thousands fled to higher ground in the town since midnight, seeking shelter with relatives and friends in Puliyanthivu, a suburb on a higher elevation than rest of the town.

Many stood on the White Bridge in Batticaloa town looking out for waves in the lagoon. The Boxing Day Tsunami hit areas by the lagoon in the town as it sped inland.

Vadamaradchi East:
Reports from Vadamaradchi East said that people have sought refuge in schools, churches and othe public buildings.

Tsunami update:
An e-mail note circulated by UNESCO/IOC International Tsunami Info Centre said: "According to Prih Harjadi, Director, Geophysical Data and Information Center [in Indonesia] as of 1800 UTC [two hours after the earth quake], NO tsunami was observed on Nias Island which is located very close (tens of km) to the epicenter."

"The PTWC had notified the US State Dept within the 1st hour of the event and they had in turn sent messages to the US Embassies in Thailand, Myanmar, Jakarta, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius."