'The sea is coming inland'

The trail of destruction along the coast in the southern Sri Lankan town of Lunawa is seen in this picture taken yesterday after tsunami tidal waves lashed more than half of Sri Lanka's coastline. PHOTO: AFP

The first wave swept in at a low level, but shortly afterwards the television cameraman heard a huge roar as another wave pummeled his home, forcing him to clamber onto his roof as his belongings were soaked downstairs.

"I saw houses and trees uprooted and being swept inland," said Waruna, 35, at his home 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of the capital Colombo.

Ferocious tsunamis slammed into Sri Lanka's idyllic coastline without warning Sunday as it was packed with holiday-makers, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.

Thousands of people were killed as the waves hit from the northeast near the holiday resort town of Trincomalee and swept downwards and west around the tear-drop shaped island, hitting coastal towns including Paiyagala.

Sri Lanka's main route back to the capital was impassable, blocked by debris from damaged houses and buildings, trees, and vehicles, some overturned and piled atop each other, that were swept away by the powerful surging water.

Several hundred metres (yards) inland, fishing boats were left marooned along with mounds of sand from the beaches when the swirling waters receded, while vehicles, some overturned, were strewn everywhere.

Sections of the railway tracks connecting Sri Lanka's south to the capital were a tangle of metal or entirely swept away and will need extensive repairs.

The railway station at Paiyagala, like many of the buildings here, had only two of its walls still standing. A dog padded across a road, carrying a dead chicken in its jaws.

Many residents fled for higher ground after the first wave hit and remained away, fearing more waves.

The manager of the four-star Tangerine Beach Hotel, 40 kilometres south of Colombo, said looters were taking out television sets and furniture from his flooded hotel.

"There is a lot of looting going on, but there is very little we can do to stop it. It seems to be a free for all," Lakal Jayasinghe, 43, told AFP.

Guests at his 150-room hotel were being moved to Colombo via inland routes, which is likely to take hours, he said.

"Our basement is under water. The entire hotel was suddenly several feet under water. Beds and television sets were suddenly floating. Our kitchens and stores were inundated."