Goa asks fishermen to stay off rough sea

Goa asks fishermen to stay off rough sea
Tsunami alert sounded in Kerala, TN
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 9
The Goa government has asked the fishing community not to venture into the sea as heavy waves were expected to hit the shore sometimes after Sunday evening following a high intensity earthquake at Aceh province in Indonesia.
“There is no tsunami alert but we have asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea as a precaution. They can wait for a day or two to judge the situation and later can go in,” a senior fisheries department officer stated.
The government machinery was put on alert and notices were issued to all the jetties asking them to be wary of high magnitude waves.
Mandovi Fisheries Cooperative Society Limited officer at Malim jetty confirmed that they have received the notice from the State government asking their members to be cautious.
“We have informed everyone. I don’t think anyone will risk going into the sea after what we faced during Phyan cyclone,” he said.
PTI adds: An alert was sounded in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with authorities asked to remain vigilant after a powerful earthquake struck an Indonesian province, setting off fears of a Tsunami.
Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea and people living close to the shore asked to move to safer places in Tamil Nadu, where however, the alert was withdrawn in the evening, police and officials said.
As the quake of 7.2 magnitude hit Aceh province in Indonesia at 12.59 pm (local time), authorities in both states were on alert after the Centre advised states concerned to take precautionary steps.
Marina beach in Chennai was declared out of bounds for public and traffic on roads leading to it was diverted. Later in the evening, traffic resumed.
Fishermen in Nagapattinam district, devastated by the December 2004 tsunami,claiming over 6000 lives, were asked not to put out to sea and to move away from the shores.
Fire services, revenue and police departments were also put on alert, District Collector C Munianathan told PTI.
In coastal Kanyakumari town, tourists were evacuated from the beach and Vivekananda Rock Memorial, which is in the sea.
In Kerala, those living close to the sea in parts of Alappuzha district were asked to move to safer places as heavy sea erosion was reported from some places, official sources said.
“For time being, the people have been asked to move on their own to safer places like nearby school buildings or homes of relatives. If necessary, official arrangements would be made for their evacuation”, sources said.