Saturday, February 19 2005 15:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagercoil (TN): The Kanyakumari district administration today (Feb 19, 2005) sounded an alert on the coastal areas of the district following reports of a powerful earthquake jolting Indonesia's Sulawesi island triggering tidal waves.

The tourist boat service to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari had been suspended on the basis of the alert, Poompuhar Shipping Corporation authorities said.

Police and coast guard had been alerted to be ready for emergency operations in case the earthquake triggered huge sea waves as had happened during the tsunami tragedy in December, official sources said.

The December 26 tsunami had caused largescale death and devastation on the district's western coast.