COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A tsunami struck Sri Lanka Sunday, causing a reported 3,000 deaths with another 1,000 unconfirmed.
One million others were injured or displaced by the wave, which was reportedly almost 9 feet high. Hundreds of thousands of survivors were housed in schools, churches, Buddhist temples and government buildings Sunday. Authorities were struggling to provide food and clothes to the displaced families.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was visiting London Sunday, declared a state of natural disaster in the country and plans to cut her trip short and return to Sri Lanka Monday. She ordered all government officials to cancel trips and vacations to report for work Monday.
The government has appealed for international assistance and aid has begun pouring in. India, also been hit by the tidal wave, has dispatched ships carrying relief supplies. Indian Air Force and Navy helicopters and men arrived to help in search and rescue operations as thousands of people remained missing.
"I think this is the worst ever natural disaster in Sri Lanka," said N.D. Hettiarachchi, director of the National Disaster Management Center.
