Earthquake in Indian ocean: Felt even within SL – People panic fearing possible Tsunami -Power cuts; coastal railway service suspended

(Lanka-e-News-11.April.2012, 11.55PM) Sri Lanka was among the countries which were deemed vulnerable to the Tsunami threat following the massive earthquake of 8.7 on the Richter scale which hit the Indian ocean very close to Indonesia .This earthquake which occurred at about 2.16 p.m. was felt not only in the areas of the coastal belt , but even in Colombo including Nugegoda and Ratmalana. The center for Pacific Tsunami stated that Tsunami waves were not triggered , but if they did , they would have affected Devundara at 4.09 p.m. , Trincomalee at 4.20 p.m , Colombo at 4.50 p.m. and Jaffna at 5.00 p.m. in SL ; and 28 countries including SL were facing the Tsunami threat . The SL disaster management center took immediate measures to announce to those residents in the areas in the aforementioned paragraph , and the people in the south and east coastal areas to move to a safe location. The people turned panicky as there was no time for them to reach safe locations. But after the time given was over , they were told by the disaster management center to remain in the safe locations for a further two hours . The Ceylon electricity Board decided to cut off power in the Eastern and southern districts. The train service along the coastal line was suspended and the Galle Road from Colombo to Galle was closed. The Galle –Colombo express Highway was opened to divert the Galle road traffic . Due to the emergency , all vehicles were allowed to use the express Highway free of charge. The health Ministry announced that all workers in hospitals along the coast shall report to work. The Forces were also told to be in alert along the coastal belt .Following the first earthquake , another earthquake of 8.6 on the Richter scale occurred in the vicinity of the Sumatra Island , Indonesia. This earthquake was felt in Colombo , Matara and several other districts , according to the residents of those areas. Later at about 6.30 p.m. the tsunami threats posed by the two earlier earthquakes to SL were dismissed . The meteorological Dept. announced that the people can get back to their abodes.