US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO2046

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR CA/OCS AND SA/INS 
STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID 
PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC, EAID, CE, MV, Tsunami, MIssion Security, Maldives 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA, MALDIVES REPORT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, 
CASUALTIES FROM TIDAL WAVE 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (U) At least 2000 people were reported killed in Sri 
Lanka, including 4 in Colombo, and an unknown number in 
Maldives as a result of flooding caused by tidal waves 
unleashed by an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia on 
December 26.  Beach resorts in both countries, packed with 
holiday tourists, suffered extensive damage.  The Embassy has 
activated the warden network.  As of 6:00 p.m. local time the 
Embassy had received no reports of American casualties, but 
reliable information is scarce.  The governments of both 
countries have requested international disaster assistance. 
In addition, the Sri Lankan Government has asked for disaster 
management assistance from the U.S.  End summary. 
 
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TSUNAMI TAKES TOURISTS, LOCALS BY SURPRISE 
 
SIPDIS 
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2.  (U) Massive tidal waves, spurred by an earthquake in 
Indonesia, washed over atolls across Maldives, including the 
capital city of Male, and struck coastal areas in the north, 
east, south and southwest of Sri Lanka mid-morning on 
December 26.  Minor flooding was also reported in suburbs to 
the south of Colombo (approximately 5 km from the Embassy). 
By mid-day on December 26, police and hospital sources in Sri 
Lanka were reporting more than 1000 dead across the country; 
later in the day Government reports put the tally at over 
2000.  Casualty figures for Maldives were unavailable, 
although Chief Government Spokesman Dr. Ahmed Shaheed 
reported that eight Maldivians were killed.  Popular coastal 
tourist resorts in Maldives and Sri Lanka, filled to capacity 
with holiday travelers, were among the hardest-hit areas.  As 
of early evening on December 26, the Embassy had received no 
reports of American citizens being killed or injured in 
either country.  However, reliable information is scarce, and 
it has not been possible to contact the resorts and hotels. 
 
3.  (U)  The Embassy activated the warden system to alert 
U.S. citizens of the situation.  The Embassy is planning to 
send an emboff to Galle and another to Male, conditions 
permitting, on December 27 to assess the situation and to 
contact American citizens.  As of mid-day on December 26, 
hospital sources in Sri Lanka reported were reporting the 
following:  350 dead in the eastern coastal disrict of 
Batticaloa; 200-250 dead in the northeastern district of 
Trincomalee; ; 250 dead in the southern district of Matara; 
115 dead in the southern district of Hambantota; 250 dead in 
the southwestern district of Galle; and 4 dead in Colombo. 
 
4.  (SBU)  According to Sri Lankan Army sources, the military 
has lost communications with its camps north of Trincomalee. 
One brigade headquarters in Trincomalee was reported 
completely washed away, and the brigade commander is feared 
dead.  Army bases at strategic Point Pedro and Nagarkovil in 
the northern district of Jaffna are completely under water, 
and at least 7 soldiers were reported killed and 120 injured 
in the northern district of Jaffna.  Military casualties in 
the east are unknown, but many soldiers are reported missing. 
 
 
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GOVERNMENTS SEEK HELP 
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5.  (U) Both the Sri Lankan and Maldivian governments have 
declared national disasters and are seeking foreign 
assistance.  Maldivian Government Spokesman Shaheed, who told 
poloff that two-thirds of the capital is under water after 
waves as high as 10 feet crashed into the island, said 
communications have been lost with some of the more remote 
atolls and that on some islands not a single structure has 
been left standing.  The government's most pressing need is 
logistical support, including aircraft to provide 
reconnaissance flights to assess damage on outlying atolls 
with which Male has lost communication. 
 
6.  (SBU)  The Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Office contacted 
the Ambassador to ask for U.S. assistance in monitoring the 
potential for follow-up tsunamis from aftershocks, which the 
Ambassador conveyed to the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center in 
Honolulu.  Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara 
subsequently contacted the Ambassador to request U.S. 
assistance to his government in disaster management. 
 
7.  (U) Ambassador spoke to UNDP ResRep Miguel Bermeo, who 
had been in meetings all day with the Sri Lankan government. 
Bermeo said at least 2,000 were dead, 200,000 disiplaced, and 
one million were affected by the flooding.  He said a UN 
disaster assistance team would be arriving, perhaps as soon 
as December 27, to assess the situation and provide disaster 
management assistance.  He also noted that there is no 
information on the situation in LTTE-controlled areas along 
the eastern coast.  He will be meeting again with Government 
representatives later December 26 to put in place a 
preliminary relief distribution plan. 
 
8.  (U) The Embassy will continue to monitor the situation 
and provide updates as more information becomes available. 
LUNSTEAD