Advanced Search
Business | Metro | Nation | World | Sports | Features | Specials | Delta Stories
 
 
Over 800 killed by tsunamis in Galle, Sri Lanka
28/12/2004 6:20

Over 800 people died herein the worst tsunamis Sunday and over 500 were injured, announced local police in the Galle general hospital here Monday.

Galle, a city some 100 kilometers south of Sri Lanka's capital,is one of the places in this island country hit most by a worst tsunami caused by a great earthquake in Indonesia.

There are some 30 bodies still lying in the hospital and the police said more than 700 dead have already been taken away by tractors for burials.

Sad voices of the college students could be heard through loudspeakers in the city, calling continuously and desperately forthe missing people who might have been already swept away by the tidal waves to "contact their families."

The beach of the city is the worst damaged place where all the buildings, huts, shelter or houses, are all in complete ruins. There are only a couple of policemen standing some distance away. "More policemen are being called in from stations in the other unaffected areas," according to an officers.

People are looking hopelessly at their ruined buildings or damaged households as a way to keep an eye on whatever is left since most of them are very poor fishermen. They would need what is left to re-start their life after the disaster.

Not much relief goods have arrived yet due to hampered transportation and communications. Most of the surviving people have to use the nearby temples as shelters.

However, drinking water is still drinkable and no contaminationhas been found, according to the police.

"My wife and my son were whirled away by the floods," a mid-aged man told Xinhua crying loudly. He added many trucks near the sea were washed away "like leaves," and one of them "with 17 people on it disappeared in no time."

Galle is a city of death and tears. No people dare to walk any closer to the sea side yet as threatening tides still surge high after Sunday's killing tsunamis.



 Xinhua