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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Tidal waves wreak havoc-President appeals for international assistance |28 December 2004

Tidal waves wreak havoc-President appeals for international assistance

Giant tidal waves that swept through the Indian Ocean region were triggered by a massive earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter Scale which struck off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia on Sunday.

The tidal waves to hit Seychelles measured up to four metres high and devastated infrastructure along coastal areas, mainly in eastern and southern Mahe, as well as in several areas of Praslin and La Digue.

The waves caused flooding in Victoria – halting activities at both the commercial and fishing ports – as well as in residential areas like Roche Caiman, Anse Royale and all along the southern and southwestern coasts of Mahe.

The Roche Caiman bridge has been washed away

The tidal surges destroyed bridges and sunk boats off the coasts and those tied to the jetties at Marine Charter and the Seychelles Fishing Authority. Flooding was also reported at the Seychelles Nation office, which is located at the Long Pier road. The office had to be evacuated on Sunday afternoon, preventing the publication of Monday's newspaper. The building has also suffered structural damages.

As a security measure, electricity supplies were shut down affecting several areas on Mahe.

Most of the damages on La Digue, apparently one of the first islands to be hit by the waves, were felt at the jetty where boats were smashed into the rocks. On Praslin, Baie St Anne is said to be the most affected.

President Michel inspects damage to a Praslin road caused by the tidal surge

In the wake of the disaster, President Michel Monday December 27 convened an urgent meeting with Cabinet ministers and key members of the National Disaster Committee at State House to take stock of the situation, assess the damage and work on a restoration plan. An exercise, he said, would also be carried out to evaluate the country's level of preparedness to cope with similar events in the future.

President Michel meeting with Cabinet ministers and key members of the National Disaster Committee

President Michel said the impact of the calamity could have been worse had members of the National Disaster Committee not immediately informed of the situation and set up a base at the Police Command Centre in Victoria to monitor what was happening. He also noted excellent cooperation with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, as radio hosts sent out alerts to warn members of the public.

President Michel said as a result, the country was spared major casualties though there had been material damage to properties.

The government, he said, would be setting up a fund to assist those affected, a measure President Michel said would have an impact on the budget allocated for next year. He said he hopes to get the support of all Seychellois as people's lives come first.

The next step is to start work as soon as possible to repair damages and bring lives back to normal.

Members of the Disaster Committee, along with their respective ministries, have until noon Tuesday December 28 to assess the cost of damages and submit their reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the meeting President Michel and members of the committee went to Praslin to assess damages on the island and later in the afternoon he visited affected areas in the  South of Mahe. 

The police’s public relations officer, Jean Toussaint, has confirmed that eight of the nine persons believed to be missing had been accounted for and by Monday there was only one person presumed missing.

Mr Toussaint said according to relatives this person is believed to be at sea, but this information has not been confirmed yet. However, the police has since Sunday been receiving reports about a body floating off the coast at La Retraite, but efforts by the Coast Guard to retrieve this body have been unsuccessful. No connection is being made between the missing person and the body said to be floating in the sea.

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