No tsunami fear in Kenya: Met
A tsunami, tidal wave smashes vehicles and houses at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan on March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook Japan, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. AFP PHOTO / YOMIURI SHIMBUN
Kenya has been cleared of a tsunami threat triggered by an earthquake in Japan.
The Meteorological Department had warned coastal residents to be on the alert for water waves following the massive underwater tremor.
The Friday alert said the tsunami could hit the Kenyan coast by Saturday morning. Some tourists heeded the warning and kept off the beaches. (READ: Weatherman: Tsunami waves to reach Kenya)
But on Sunday, it was business as usual for most fishermen after the regional coordinator for the meteorological department in Malindi, Mr Simon Tswala, said the tsunami threat was over.
Initial advisory
Later on Sunday, Mr Peter Ambeje, the department’s deputy director of forecasting services, and who had issued the initial advisory, said the country was never in any danger from the tsunami.
“Based on professional predictions, we had indicated that the waves, if ever they hit the Kenyan coast, would be of insignificant strength posing no danger to lives or property,” he told the Nation on Sunday.
However, he gave no indication that the department would publicly lift the advisory, which had predicted that the waves would be weak but all the same cautioned coastal residents to be on the lookout.
Fishermen in Malindi and Magarini continued their activities on Friday night undisturbed, bringing in their catch on Saturday.
Over 100 fishermen in 20 boats were reported to have gone into sea soon after the alert. They came back safely the following morning, reporting no unusual happenings at sea.
However, according to Mr Omar Mshanu of the Beach Management Unit in Ngomeni, a few heeded the warning and even removed their fishing gear from the shore.
But it was a totally different story for tourists in Malindi, who are said to have kept away from the beaches. On Sunday, almost all sports fishing boats were seen anchored.
Earlier reports also indicated slow business at night spots after tourists decided to play it safe by staying indoors.
The Kenyan alert, seemingly the only one to be issued by any country along the eastern coast of Africa and around the Indian Ocean coastline, was came hours after countries much closer to Japan had lifted theirs.
It was issued out of fears that a strong tsunami could breach into the Indian Ocean near Indonesia and head for Africa. But it would have hit India much earlier.
India had on Friday issued a bulletin stating that the sub-continent or any other country on the Indian Ocean coastline did not face any Tsunami threat.
