TSUNAMI WORRY: Shoppers, apartment dwellers rush
out, beaches deserted
Hundreds of people ran out of shopping complexes and apartments, while those enjoying the breezy evening at the Esplanade and Batu Feringghi were told to move away from the sea following tremors and tsunami alerts, after a 8.6 magnitude earthquake in Aceh yesterday.
There were also reports that the tremor caused waters to spill out from
a swimming pool at the Penang Turf Club in Batu Gantung.
Hotels located along Batu Ferringhi were also reported to have issued
alerts to their guests of possible tsunami.
Hard Rock Hotel's marketing communications manager Elisa Saw said its
security department head and security personnel were on standby to evacuate
guests from the beach area as a precaution after receiving tsunami alerts.
"We are monitoring the situation for safety reasons and the welfare
of our guests," Saw said.
Hydro Hotel general manager M. Kumar said the hotel had alerted staff
and guests on the earthquake and put up notices warning guests not to go to the
beach area.
Batu Feringghi was deserted with most people moving to higher grounds in
fear of a tsunami.
Checks showed police, civil defence and volunteer corps personnel busy
evacuating people from the beach, although some chose to ignore the warnings
and continue strolling the beach.
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| Workers from a textile factory in Solok Pinang milling about after the factory ordered its 1,500 workers to vacate the building yesterday. |
Meanwhile, a textile factory in Solok Pinang here was reported to have
ordered its 1,500 workers out of the plant.
In Kepala Batas, the authorities had issued a warning to residents along
the Kuala Muda coastline here to avoid the beaches. Police and the Fire Rescue
Department personnel were on standby at the location.
Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, the settlement worst hit by the tsunami in 2004,
was almost deserted yesterday as soon as tremors were felt in five villagers.
Most of the residents from five villages vacated their homes and
assembled at Dewan Tunku Shafinaz Intan multi-purpose hall as they had been
trained to do so.
The residents -- from Kampung Tepi Sungai, Kampung Masjid, Kampung
Padang Salim, Kampung Keda Tepi Sungai and Kampung Kepala Jalan -- moved out on
their accord after their villages were hit by tremors, which started at 4.50pm
and lasted for 20 seconds.
Meanwhile, more than 200 fishermen and their families have been
relocated to Kuah, Belanga Pecah and Temuju in light of the earthquake which
hit Aceh.
Fishermen Committee leader Asri Shaaban, 52, said colleagues, who were
out at sea, were notified of the event and told to return.
"Everyone came back safely and were accounted for. More than 170
fishing boats have been relocated to safe areas near the Langkawi International
Airport."
Risk areas have been identified in Kuala Chenang, Chenang beach, Keriang
and Pulau Melaka. Those living there had been evacuated.
Asri said they had been practising these tactics since the tsunami
incident in 2004.
An operations centre had also been opened. He said the second quake
which occurred a 7pm in Indonesia was felt more acutely than the first one at
4pm. However, he expressed confidence that everything would be all right as
they had taken the proper precautionary measures.
Ferry services to and from Langkawi were halted after the first level
tsunami warning was issued.
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