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| Tuesday, 28 December 2004 |
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by Manjula Fernando and Uditha Kumarasinghe As the nation took a temporary breather from Sunday's cataclysmic disaster a clearer picture of the extent and enormity of the catastrophe began to gradually emerge as the country went into mourning for the unprecedented number of victims, dead and displaced in the worst natural disaster to hit Sri Lanka in living memory. Sri Lankan Military Spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake told Reuters that the death toll stood at 10,029. According to the international news agency Reuters, 10,029 people were killed and 800,000 affected in Sri Lanka by the Tsunami tidal waves which struck a wave of destruction from west of the Indonesian island of Sumathra, North towards Madras and then to the Maldives. Reports stated that a wall of water as high as 35 feet triggered by the underground earthquake swept into Indonesia and across the ocean to Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. US scientists measured the earthquake at a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale making it the most powerful in 40 years in Sri Lanka and the deadliest since 1990. Meanwhile Tamil Net said that the death toll in the North East region alone could be more than 6000. Governor of the North East Tyronne Fernando told the Daily News last evening that there was an acute shortage of water and Lake House promised to help. The highways in the Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Habarana and Trinco areas are badly damaged making it difficult for rescue operations and relief work to be carried out while the same situation prevails in the South. Official figures so far released yesterday by Police Headquarters placed the death toll at 4,977 with 371,920 displaced from the tsunami tidal waves that devastated coastal areas on Sunday. Authorities fear that the number of victims could soar as details of the grim picture kept pouring in. According to Sunday's count, the reports also confirmed that 1,050 people had gone missing and a further 988 injured or hospitalised. Meanwhile, an AFP report quoting the military and the LTTE said yesterday nearly 11,000 people, including 70 foreigners, were killed and 50 more were missing after tsunamis devastated much of Sri Lanka's coastline, . The military said 10,029 people killed were civilians and 48 were security personel throughout the island, except in areas held by the LTTE in the north. A Reuter report datelined Colombo, Dec 27 states: "Sri Lanka said on Monday the Indian Ocean island's death toll from the worst tsunami in living memory rose to 10,029 with about 800,000 persons displaced. Military spokesman Daya Ratnayaka said the latest toll was based on reports from police aiding rescue operations. There were no definite figures for the total number of people driven from their homes." According to the official figures released so far 1,516 deaths have been reported while 120,500 people have been displaced in Ampara. Six hundred fifty three people have died and 84,025 people have been displaced in the Batticaloa district. Three deaths, with nine missing in addition to 200 displaced were reported from the Anuradhapura district. In addition 8,270 people have been displaced in Chilaw.The tsunami tidal wave also left 140 people dead and 5,000 displaced in Elpitiya. Five hundred deaths, with 1,000 missing and 7,000 homeless were reported in Galle. Four hundred and seventeen have died and another 5,000 people have been displaced in Tangalle. In Matara the number of dead were reported to be 671 with a further 1,000 displaced. In addition 250 deaths were reported from Hambantota. Meanwhile, 149 people have died and 4000 have been displaced in the Jaffna district. A further 41 persons were reported missing in Jaffna while 885 persons have been injured or hospitalised. Five hundred ninety people were killed and 7,500 displaced in Trincomalee while another 450 have been displaced and 103 have hospitalised in Vavuniya. The reports also say that five people have died and 20,000 have displaced in the Colombo district. Thirty five people have died and 3,000 have been displaced in the Kalutara district. Three deaths were reported from Kelaniya, where 8475 were displaced. Eight people have died and 13,000 displaced in Mt. Lavinia. Two persons died and 7000 rendered homeless in Negombo while a further 34 deaths were reported in Panadura where 10,000 were displaced. The reports also confirmed that eight Japanese nationals and four German nationals were killed in Sunday's devastation in Tangalle. Four Indians nationals in Trincomalee have also been reported killed. In addition the unidentified bodies of 16 foreigners in Tangalle (10), Kalutara (2) and Pothuvil, Ulla area (4) have been recovered. The tidal waves which devastated the coastal areas have completely destroyed a large number of buildings including the SP's office in Panadura and Kalkudah, Kuchchaveli and Muttur Police Stations. In addition the Thrikkovil Police barrack too had been destroyed. Meanwhile Galle, Hikkaduwa, Weligama, Gandara, Hambantota, Rathgama, Ambalantota, Ahangama, Kosgoda, Dikwella and Pothuvil Police Stations have been partly damaged. The Oluvil bridge, the connecting bridge between Pothuvil and Kalmunai has been completely destroyed. In addition, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa bridges have collapsed. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse who is also the Highways Minister has already given instructions to renovate these bridges damaged by the tidal waves. A Party Leader's meeting was held at Temple Trees yesterday to devise measures to provide immediate relief to the displaced. Decision was taken at this Party Leader's meeting to provide Rs.10,000 compensation to the family of each deceased person. Party Leaders will meet each day at 9.30 am at Temple trees. The Industries and Industrial Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogallagama said a survey is being conducted on the business enterprises set up in each affected districts to reorganise those business enterprises damaged in the sudden disaster. Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth said the Government has taken immediate measures to provide roofing sheets, drinking water and clothes to the displaced people. Two hundred water bowsers have been sent to the affected areas by Sunday evening. He said the water supply in Trincomalee has been restored. However, there is a drinking water problem in Hambantota and more water bowsers are needed to the Hambantota district. A large number of children in Kalmunai have lost their parents while several fishermen who went out to sea are reported missing. India will dispatch six helicopters for rescue and relief work and in addition, two Russian planes are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka with relief assistance to those displaced by the tidal waves. Social Welfare Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena said the Ministry has taken steps to photograph the bodies of all unidentified people before burial. The Ministry will inform the relatives at a later date. The Minister said the Social Services Ministry through a special network will provide immediate relief measures to the displaced. Meanwhile teams of local and foreign doctors and medical students will tour affected areas to provide immediate medical attention to the displaced. A special UAE delegation who called on the Prime Minister yesterday made an immediate donation of Rs.10 million to provide assistance to the displaced people and pledged further assistance to the Government. Official GUIDE TO STATISTICS Area deaths displaced missing injured
Colombo 5 20,000
Kalutara 35 3000
Panadura 34 10,000
Kelaniya 3 8475
Mount-Lavinia 8 13,000
Negombo 2 7000
Galle 500 7000 1000
Tangalle 417 5000
Hambantota 250
Matara 671 1000
Elpitiya 140 5000
Chilaw 8270
Ampara 1516 120500
Batticaloa 653 200 9
Jaffna 149 4000 41 885
Trincomalee 591 7500
Vavuniya 450 103
Total number of deaths 4977
Total number of displaced 371920
Total number of missing 1050
Total number of injured or hospitalised 988
**** President returns today to take charge of relief efforts President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga returns to the island today to take charge of relief efforts in the wake of Sunday's tidal waves, states a Presidential Secretariat press release. **** |
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