Sumatra quake: Nine AP coastal districts put on high alert

The Andhra Pradesh government today put officials of nine coastal districts in the state on high alert following the massive earthquake in Indonesia.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed Collectors of coastal districts in the state to take all precautionary measures and utilise the services of armed forces, if required, to meet any eventuality.

He asked the Collectors to open control rooms and direct fishermen, who ventured into the sea, to return home immediately and also evacuate people from the beaches, a release from the CMO said.

The AP Disaster Management Department has also opened a round-the-clock control room in the state secretariat here to monitor the situation.