Published on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Tourists evacuated in Indian Ocean tsunami alert

Tourists are being urged to evacuate coastal resorts in the Indian Ocean region following fears that an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia could trigger a tsunami.

Resorts on the south-west coast of Thailand and in the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Indonesia have all been placed on tsunami alert.

Kuoni said it was in contact with its ground handlers in all affected areas and customers were being contacted. "Precautionary measures are in place to move anyone to higher ground if they are in exposed areas," it said.

"Kuoni are monitoring the situation with their ground agents and hotel partners...and will take all necessary action to ensure customers' safety."

It said further updates would be posted when it received more information.

In Thailand, the government urged people in the Andaman coastal areas to the south west of the country to evacuate. The region includes several popular resorts, including Phuket and Krabi.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning center said it wasn't known whether the quake off the northern Aceh province has generated a tsunami, but it warned authorities to "take appropriate action".

It said quakes of this size, which had a magnitude of 8.7 to 8.9, have the potential to generate widespread damage across the whole region.

Indonesian television reported no immediate damage from the earthquake, but a similar quake on Boxing Day 2004 triggered a tsunami which surged across the Indian Ocean, killing about 230,000.

The latest tremor was felt in the Thai capital Bangkok as well as in India, Singapore and Indonsesia.

The UK Foreign Office is advising British nationals in the Indian Ocean region to call home to let relatives know they are safe.

By Linsey McNeill