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Tsunami threat: Swedish tourists to move inland

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

KOVALAM, DEC. 28. The Swedish Embassy has issued a directive to a 25-member tourist group, including 14 children, holidaying in the international beach resort to move to a location 20 km inland citing the reason that the entire Kerala coast is "catastrophic" and unsafe for tourists.

The tourists who arrived here via Stockholm, Frankfurt, Bahrain and Abudhabi on December 27 and checked into a hotel dotting the Eve's beach shifted to a resort at Thiruvallam last night. The tourists comprise three senior officials from the Swedish TV (SVT) and one from the Swedish National Radio.

"We shifted from Kovalam around 10 p.m. on Monday after receiving the directive of the embassy and telephone call from the SVT's Chief Executive Officer, Christina Jutterstrom, to immediately vacate from the hotel," the Head of the Arts and Cultural Affairs of SVT, Kristina Lindstrom, told The Hindu .

Alert

All were nervous in view of the advice from the embassy and alert sounded by the officials that another tsunami was likely to hit the coastal areas of the State.

"However, our decision to shift to Thiruvallam was justified as we saw people abandoning the homes and rushing to safer places, and the police evacuating the people," Ms. Lindstrom said.

The SVT's Executive Producer, News and Current Affairs, Eva Landahl, said the tsunami phenomenon and the massive destruction caused in South India was flashed on the mobile phone when they were in Bahrain. She said they had no other option as they had come all the way for holidaying in the State on the advice of their friend hailing from the city.

Restrictions imposed

Ms. Landahl and Ms. Lindstorm, who had arrived with their daughters, said they were unable to enjoy the holidays in view of the embassy directive and restrictions imposed by the authorities on the beach.

"We are getting calls from our relatives in Stockholm in view of the reports on the television and other media. We are nervous as we do not have any information on the alert." While the elders were spotted running around to contact their relatives, the youngsters of the group were seen taking a swim and playing games at the hotel.

The Swedish tourists came back to Kovalam once the situation returned to normality and after contacting the embassy in New Delhi.

Ms. Lindstorm said they contacted the embassy today and that the officials had left the decision on vacating the resort to them. At 3 p.m., they were yet to decide where they would spend the rest of their holidays.

The Swedish tourists, who are on a two-week holiday, will visit the backwaters and Kochi before flying back.

Meanwhile, Erika Bjerstom, the SVT's correspondent in Belgium, who is part of the team holidaying in the resort visited the worst affected places in Kollam.

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