Hyderabad: In the wake of a powerful earthquake
in Indonesia which triggered fears of tsunami, the Andhra
Pradesh Government today alerted coastal districts to take up
precautionary measures.
Coastal district administrations have been put on alert
and fishermen are advised not to venture into sea, official
sources said.
In Visakhapatnam and other port cities in the state,
officials have asked the visitors and tourists to stay away
from the beach, they said.
Control rooms have been opened in Machilipatnam in Krishna
district, Rajahmundry in East Godavari district and other
coastal districts. Andhra Pradesh has a coastline of about 970
kms, the longest in the country.
A powerful quake of 7.2 magnitude hit the Indonesian
province of Aceh today. The quake struck at 12:59 pm (1129
IST) 66 kms southwest off Meulaboh on the Aceh coast,
according to the local Meteorological and Geophysics Agency,
triggering a local tsunami alert.
The Central Government, however, said in New Delhi that
there was no immediate Tsunami threat to country`s mainland
and the Andaman and Nicobar islands in view of the strong
quake in Indonesia.
"There is no immediate Tsunami threat to Indian mainland
and Andaman and Nicobar islands due to the earthquake in
Sumatra. However, Ministry of Home Affairs advises state
governments to take appropriate precautionary measures," a
ministry spokesperson said.
East Godavari administration has alerted 13 mandals in
the district and is taking precautionary measures, including
shifting of people living in low-lying areas and near sea to
safer places, an official said.
Two control rooms have been set up to monitor the
situation.
PTI
