As reported by CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/af...tsunami.kenya/

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My story may be of interest in relation to the Asia quake. My name is
Sayyeda Valli. I am 17 years old, and I'm a student at Jaffery Academy in
Mombasa, Kenya.

I want to narrate what happened today. We went to celebrate Boxing Day in
Malindi Marine National Park. My family hired a glass boat and 24 of us set
sail.

When we reached the deep waters, we took a dip and swam with the fish. Later
on we went further on to the sand banks because some of us wanted to swim in
the shallow waters.

The drama started then.

Suddenly, those of us who had jumped into the sea, began to be pulled by the
current with absolutely no warning. The boat which had anchored began to
swirl round and round.

The seven people who had jumped into the sea were being pulled in all sorts
of direction and there was panic all around.

Those who jumped in to save them also got pulled in, inspite of the fact
they were good swimmers.

The water began to change color, became very choppy, and there was a section
where the water level dropped, and it seemed like the rest of the ocean was
flowing into it.

Suddenly the level rose within seconds and the sand bank disappeared again
as fast as it appeared. The engine of the boat was revving at full speed and
yet the boat was not moving.

With the help of other boats in the area, we managed to save the passengers
from our boats and their boats. We began to head towards the coast. Again
our boat twirled, drawn by the currents. It was scary.

Finally we reached the coast, only to realise that there was a panic on the
shore, for our boat was the second last boat to come ashore.

We were hurriedly pulled to the shore by seamen who were terrified and
confused. Only then did we realize that something major was happening in the
sea. The color of the sea had changed to red.

On return, I saw on BBC about the major Asia quake and the effect it has had
and the lives it has claimed. I'm wondering if today's event had anything to
do with the tidal wave that swept Asia.

Our local radio station has just issued an alert for people by the ocean to
be very careful and they have not yet reported any casualties.

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L




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