At least 4,185 dead as towns nearest epicentre destroyed by tidal waves

TOWNS nearest the epicentre of yesterday’s massive earthquake were levelled by tidal waves, killing at least 4,185 people and leaving bodies wedged in trees as the waters receded, officials and witnesses said.

Communications were down in several coastal towns facing the epicentre of the 8.9 magnitude quake off the west coast of Sumatra island, officials said, raising fears that further death and damage were yet to be reported.

Aceh province on the northern tip of Sumatra island - which for years has been torn by separatist violence - was worst hit.