Sunday, December 26 2004 14:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: At least 52 people were killed and several hundreds missing when tidal waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in Indonesia hit the nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh this morning (Dec 26, 2004), official sources said in Hyderabad.

Krishna district bore the brunt accounting for 25 deaths, followed by Prakasham 15, Srikakulam five, Nellore four and West Godavari three, the sources, quoting reports from district headquarters, said.

However, the toll is likely to go up as many people are still missing, they said adding, many low-lying areas are marooned due to flash floods.

Chief Minister Y S Rajsekhar Reddy, who held a high level review meeting with officials to assess the situation and chalk out rescue operations, has deputed his Cabinet colleagues to monitor the rescue operations at various places in coastal areas. People from the low-lying areas are being evacuated to safer places, Reddy said before leaving for the worst-hit Prakasam district.

Tidal waves first lashed the Andhra coast at 9:00 hrs (IST) which took the highest toll while three more tremors and tidal waves leaping up to two metres came at an one hour's frequency beginning at 10:30 hrs (IST), Reddy said.

A report from Machlipatnam, quoting Krishna district collector Prabhakar Reddy, said 25 bodies, including mostly women and three children, were recovered at Manginapudi beach.

Most of them were devouts, who had come to the beach to have a holy dip on the eve of full moon day of the holy month of `Margasirsa.' About 300 fishermen from Gidukala divi (island), who had ventured into the sea are missing, he said.

Meanwhile, a report from Rajahmundry in East Godavari district said tidal waves of 1.5 metres and tremors hit the coastal towns of Kakinada, Amalapuram and Vodalerevu even as low-lying villages submerged in the flash floods.

In neighbouring West Godavari district, many fishermen, who ventured into the sea near Narssapuram, went missing and three persons were dead due to tidal waves, a spokesman of the district administration said.