CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS POST
This is on Deigo Garcia's official US Navy website:
http://www.dg.navy.mil/ then select Tsunami News Update at left-middle
of screen/page.


Initial indications are that Diego Garcia was not affected by the
Andaman Tsunami of 26 December 2004. It is located south of the tip of
India, well with in range of what the tsunami, with a max elevation of
22 and an average elevation of only 4 feet. Civilians monitoring
shortwave radio reported on rec.radio.shortwave that a female operator,
in answer to a query from an aircraft after giving weather information,
reported no ill effects from the earthquake.


Officials said the Diego Garcia Navy Support Facility, which houses
about 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors, suffered
no damage related to the earthquake and ensuing tsunamis. Personnel at
the facility reported no unusual activity or problems over the weekend.
Diego Garcia, the southernmost island in the Chagos Archipelago, sits
about 1,000 miles south of India and roughly 2,000 miles from the
earthquake's epicenter. Even though an earthquake like Sunday's
will radiate destructive waves in all directions, the damage caused by
the water differs greatly depending on the undersea topography.


Favorable ocean topography minimized the tsunami's impact on the
atoll. Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos Archipelago, situated on the
southernmost part of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge. To the east lies the
Chagos Trench, a 400 mile long, underwater canyon that ranges in depth
from less than 1,00 meters below the surface to depths that plunge to
over 5,000 meters. It is one of the deepest regions of the Indian
Ocean. Diego Garcia is located to the west of Chagos Trench, which runs
north and south. The depth of the Chagos Trench and grade to the shores
does not allow for tsunamis to build before passing the atoll. The
result of the earthquake was seen as a tidal surge estimated at six
feet.

CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS POST
This is on Deigo Garcia's official US Navy website:
http://www.dg.navy.mil/ then select Tsunami News Update at left-middle
of screen/page.


Initial indications are that Diego Garcia was not affected by the
Andaman Tsunami of 26 December 2004. It is located south of the tip of
India, well with in range of what the tsunami, with a max elevation of
22 and an average elevation of only 4 feet. Civilians monitoring
shortwave radio reported on rec.radio.shortwave that a female operator,
in answer to a query from an aircraft after giving weather information,
reported no ill effects from the earthquake.


Officials said the Diego Garcia Navy Support Facility, which houses
about 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors, suffered
no damage related to the earthquake and ensuing tsunamis. Personnel at
the facility reported no unusual activity or problems over the weekend.
Diego Garcia, the southernmost island in the Chagos Archipelago, sits
about 1,000 miles south of India and roughly 2,000 miles from the
earthquake's epicenter. Even though an earthquake like Sunday's
will radiate destructive waves in all directions, the damage caused by
the water differs greatly depending on the undersea topography.


Favorable ocean topography minimized the tsunami's impact on the
atoll. Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos Archipelago, situated on the
southernmost part of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge. To the east lies the
Chagos Trench, a 400 mile long, underwater canyon that ranges in depth
from less than 1,00 meters below the surface to depths that plunge to
over 5,000 meters. It is one of the deepest regions of the Indian
Ocean. Diego Garcia is located to the west of Chagos Trench, which runs
north and south. The depth of the Chagos Trench and grade to the shores
does not allow for tsunamis to build before passing the atoll. The
result of the earthquake was seen as a tidal surge estimated at six
feet.

Hi!

I just found this info on the status of Diego Garcia. I was stationed
there for a year (1979-1980) as a member of the US Navy. I was happily
suprised to learn that the island was spared...having spent many hours
roaming the shores of "DG", I know how easily it could be overrun by a
tsunami...don't recall a place as HIGH as 22 feet...The highest spot I
was on was the at the base SWIMMING POOL! It was elevated so that when
you stood at poolside, you were at about room height of surrounding
buildings. I was a lifeguard in my "spare" time. We were standing
port/starboard (12 on 12 off) work schedules at the Naval Security
Group Activity there. I still managed to hold down a part time job!
I was there when we did the failed Iranian Embassy Rescue Mission.
Some of the C-130 crews met at the pool to talk about the
"mission"...no one...even THEM knew exactly where they were going or
why! It was very hush hush. I am also a ham radio operator (WA1JMM)
and although I didn't get to operate while there, I did get a British
Indian Ocean Territory call sign from the British Government...think it
was "VP9GD" or GRD...they used your initials for the call letters! Got
to make one phone patch at the Navy MARS station and then discovered
the Autovon phone system...got to talk to my wife via an very
understanding phone op in Maine! Ah the fond memories of "The Rock"!
George, Senior Chief Petty Officer, USN (Retired).

George wrote:

Hi!

I just found this info on the status of Diego Garcia. I was stationed
there for a year (1979-1980) as a member of the US Navy. I was happily
suprised to learn that the island was spared...having spent many hours
roaming the shores of "DG", I know how easily it could be overrun by a
tsunami...don't recall a place as HIGH as 22 feet...The highest spot I
was on was the at the base SWIMMING POOL! It was elevated so that when
you stood at poolside, you were at about room height of surrounding
buildings. I was a lifeguard in my "spare" time. We were standing
port/starboard (12 on 12 off) work schedules at the Naval Security
Group Activity there. I still managed to hold down a part time job!
I was there when we did the failed Iranian Embassy Rescue Mission.
Some of the C-130 crews met at the pool to talk about the
"mission"...no one...even THEM knew exactly where they were going or
why! It was very hush hush. I am also a ham radio operator (WA1JMM)
and although I didn't get to operate while there, I did get a British
Indian Ocean Territory call sign from the British Government...think it
was "VP9GD" or GRD...they used your initials for the call letters! Got
to make one phone patch at the Navy MARS station and then discovered
the Autovon phone system...got to talk to my wife via an very
understanding phone op in Maine! Ah the fond memories of "The Rock"!
George, Senior Chief Petty Officer, USN (Retired).

http://www.members.tripod.com/carlvillanueva/id22.htm

dxAce
Michigan
USA

wrote:
I talked by phone, about an hour ago, with a gentleman on DG and he
said they experienced waves 3 to 4 feet high but suffered no damage.
If the island's elevation is only 4 to 22 feet high, that makes
sense.
But why was there so much damage to the coast of Somalia, another
2000
miles further west, and no damage to DG?? Would they tell us if
there
really was damage on DG??

Hi,

I saw your intervention on the net abour the the Diego Garcia base, not
affected by the tsunami. Do you know if the base has played a role in
the warning. Did the navy there, called countries of the region, as
little islands, etc? Bye! Eric