|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 21 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
The first phenomena now identified as the tsunami was first experienced by Sri Lanka then Ceylon on August 27, 1883. The Ceylon Observer through its correspondents re-capped the phenomenon in vivid detail in the Ceylon Observer Editions of August 28 and 29, 1883. Although there was no known death or destruction as the present tsunami it was reported that the sea receded 50 to 20 fathoms and that and the waves rose three feet higher than its usual level. In fact the report from Kalutara states that the whole wreck of the ship Erin was distinctly seen embedded in the sand 50 to 70 fathoms off the coast. According to the oldest inhabitants of the villages they cannot remember a similar occurrence in their lives. The Kalutara Correspondent reported that it was supposed that some volcanic action was at the bottom of this strange occurrence. A special telegram received from Batticaloa states that there on August 27 there was a very remarkable ebbing and flowing of the water, observed between the sea and Batticaloa lake at intervals of a few minutes during the whole day. The water would rise a foot or two in five minutes and rapidly subside. At 2pm a large wave came in from the sea making a small breach in the sandbank at the bar and was seen as far as Puliyanthivu. The report ends with the question. Is it a Submarine Earthquake somewhere? Tsunami in Japanese is submarine earthquake. As the sea receded, the inhabitants made a large haul of crabs and fish from the sea shore. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
