Military

DATE=12/28/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L-ONLY)

TITLE=TANZANIA/TIDAL WAVE

NUMBER=2-321387

BYLINE=CATHY MAJTENYI

DATELINE=NAIROBI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Waves Kill At Least 10 Off Tanzania Coast

INTRO: At least 10 people have drowned off Tanzania's coast as a result of Sunday's tidal wave. Cathy Majtenyi reports from VOA's East African Bureau in Nairobi.

TEXT: Ten teenagers who were swimming near beaches in Dar es Salaam Sunday died after being hit by huge waves coming from the Asian tidal wave.

Dar es Salaam's Regional Police Commander Alfred Tibaigana explains.

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"The majority are aged between 12 and 16. Five were swimming together with the others in a group, but the rest (were swimming in) different areas of the beach."

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Mr. Tibaigana says several people were injured, and boats and other properties were damaged, although he was unable to estimate the exact amount of the damage.

The waves killed one person and injured several others in neighboring Kenya, while Somalia's presidential spokesman said the waves claimed more than 100 people in Somalia and destroyed several coastal villages.

Sunday's tidal wave, caused by an earthquake in the ocean near the coast of Indonesia, has killed more than 40-thousand people in such countries as Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Maldives, and has wrecked massive devastation all over.

Huge waves radiated out to East Africa, hitting the islands of Mauritius, Reunion, and Seychelles in the process.

Rescue efforts have begun in the hardest-hit Asian countries. (SIGNED)

NEB/MEM