Tsunami waves could reach Yemeni shores Yemen's Health and population Minister, Dr. Ahmed Qassem al-Anssi,  declared a state of emergency in all health care and emergency units in the eastern and southern governorates of Yemen,

after reports that tsunami waves could reach Yemeni shores by Wednesday evening, due to the earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday. Fears that a destructive tsunami triggered by an 8.7 magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean could strike Gulf nations have now receded.
A warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) named the UAE, Oman and Yemen among the countries that could be impacted had the earthquake triggered a tsunami. The earthquake occurred off the coast of Northern Sumatra just before 9am yesterday, and Gulf nations were expected to feel any effects by mid-afternoon yesterday.
“Earthquakes of this size have the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean basin,” a statement from PTWC read.
The PTWC clarified that it was not certain that the earthquake would cause a tsunami, but news of the earthquake triggered fears that Sumatra may face an emergency similar to that which struck Japan in February 2011. More than 230,000 people were killed in 2004 when a major earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The death toll was staggering, affecting 14 countries. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.
The Yemen News Agency (SABA NEWS), said that all doctors and assistance teams, along with all staff of ambulance and emergency units must be on alert and report for duty, including those who are on vacation or on their regular days off.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni Seismological and Volcanological Observatory Centre(SVOC), warned the population and fishermen of the southern governorates of Muhra, Hadramout, Shabwa,Abyan, Aden, Lahadj, and the Yemeni islands, particularly the Soqatra Archipelago, that tsunami waves could reach these governorates' shores starting from Wednesday night.
A representative of the  Water and Environment Ministry, said his ministry had received an urgent warning from Australian institutions that tsunami waves could reach the shores of Mekla and Aden.