Sunday, December 26 2004 12:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: At least 16 persons have been killed and over 100 others are feared missing in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh due to tidal waves following the massive earthquake measuring over 8 on Richter scale in Indonesia this morning (Dec 26, 2004).

The deceased are mostly fishermen from Nellore, Chittor and Monginapudi near Machilipatnam district, official sources said in Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Reddy and Revenue Minister Prasad Rao would airdash to the affected areas this afternoon to take stock of the situation, the sources added.

While 10 persons were killed in Nellore and Chittor districts, six bodies were recovered and over 100 persons are feared missing in the tidal waves at Monginapudi in Machilipatnam district, the sources added.

Meanwhile, State Finance Minister K Rossiah told newspersons at the secretariat "we are in touch with the district collectors of the coastal districts and all of them have been asked to take up rescue operations on war-footing."

"The impact of the damage is yet to be ascertained," he said.

The entire Andhra coast experienced tremors at 6:45 hrs (IST) today following the massive earthquake in Indonesia, triggering tidal waves and flooding parts of coastal India.

People from Bharathinagar, Ayodhyanagar, Mogalrajpuram, Satyanarayanapuram, Gandhinagar, Kanuruand and Patamata apart from the areas in and around the city experienced vibrations for few seconds, prompting them to rush out of their houses, official sources said.