COLOMBO, Dec. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Over 300 people had died and thousands displaced Sunday in southeast Sri Lanka's coastal areas due to massive tsunami tidal waves triggered by a powerful earthquake off Indonesia, the state radio reported.

    Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) said the death toll could be much higher than the present estimated figure of 300.     

    According to reports from the affected areas, rioting tidal waves left most areas submerged and totally devastated.

    Officials said many homes near the coastal lines had been destroyed displacing thousands of people.

    MDAL Rodrigo, the District Secretary of Trincomalee, said that over hundred people had died in Muttur and 10,000 people had taken refuge in temporary shelters in the area.

    Jayantha Wijesekera, a government member of parliament representing Trincomalee, said over the telephone that 207 people had died in his Kinniya area.

    The eastern towns of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara along with the southern towns of Matara and Galle are the worst hit.

    The Batticaloa town was under over 5 feet of water residents said.

    Brigadier Daya Ratnayake, the military spokesman confirmed that helicopters had been dispatched with armed forces joining police in joint rescue and relief operations.

    The police said a minor earth tremor which lasted about 2 minutes had preceded the tidal waves around 7:10 local time (0110 GMT) in some areas.

    In the southern province the town of Tangalle, 196 km from the capital Colombo, was totally submerged in the sea water between 5-6 feet.

    Eye witnesses said some of the waves were as high as over 30 feet as they lashed the shore with devastating effect. Enditem