With minor aftershocks and rising sea water level, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the worst-hit countries by Sunday's earthquake and tsunamis are on high alert Thursday.

Their governments and relief organizations have advised evacuations of shorelines, moved people to high grounds, mobilized rescue units and adopted other measures of precaution.

However, amid mixed information and confusing happenings, the governments warned residents and administrative machinery at all level to remain calm and be ready to cope with any possibilities.

On Thursday morning, an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richterscale shook Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, but no report of damages and casualties.

"The low-scale tremor lasted for about three seconds," meteorology and geophysics agency official Dr Fauzi was quoted by the official Antara news agency as saying.

The quake occurred at 11:00 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT) but the location of its epicenter could not be detected, he said.

The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency warned Thursday of the possibility of aftershocks following Sunday's 8.7-magnitude quake off Sumatra island that triggered a tsunami and claimed over 45,000 lives in Aceh.

The possible aftershocks are estimated to measure within the range of 4 to 6.2 on the Richter scale, agency head Gunawan Ibrahim said in a statement.

"Another tsunami is less likely to appear but residents in the area (Aceh) must remain vigilant," he said.

But the Sri Lankan government told residents of coastal areas not to panic after receiving a fresh tsunami warning, but the government advised them to move to higher ground as a precaution.

Authorities in southern India advised coastal areas to be evacuated Thursday, warning there could be fresh tsunamis. The authorities said the warning was issued following information that several aftershocks in the region had pushed up the water level.

An estimated 5.7 magnitude underwater earthquake was recorded by the Hong Kong observatory at 21:18 GMT Wednesday off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Other quakes were felt in Thailand and Myanmar.

"We are asking residents to be alert and not to panic," Sri Lankan military spokesman, Brig. Daya Ratnayake said.

But Thilak Ranavirajah, chief of the government's relief department, cautioned: "All people along the coast to be vigilant and move to safer places."

In neighboring India, a fresh tsunami alert has been issued in Tamil Nadu and some other coastal states as high waves have been spotted on the sea.

An earthquake is possible off the coast of Australia that may lead to rising seawaters and a possible tsunami post noon, meteorologists said. They said the aftershocks in the Andaman and Nicobar islands were likely to cause high waves.

District administrations have been asked to keep people at least 2 km away from the sea. The Army, Air Force and Navy have also been put on high alert.

Local officials told Xinhua that they were busy informing the people living near the coast. Many officials were sent to villages to evacuate people from coastal belts and asked them not to go anywhere near the sea.

Meanwhile, an emergency Cabinet meeting was called in the Capital after a warning was received from international sources on the Pacific rim.

In southern Indian, fresh panic swept the tsunami-ravaged coasts as the government cautioned against more tidal waves.

Based on inputs from experts and weathermen, the home ministry directed immediate evacuation of people to safer places and all shorelines to be made inaccessible to the public.

The message said: "A number of experts outside the country are suggesting that another tsunami may hit Indian Ocean (Thursday) afternoon in the event of an earthquake of high intensity which may happen near Australian region."

"However, pending that and to be cautious, state governments and union territory administrations are kindly requested to put their administrative machinery on alert in the coastal areas and keep continuous vigil on any development in the sea.

"Arrangements may also be tied up for evacuation of people if required. Shoreline up to two kilometers into the mainland may be made non-accessible to the general public."

The Indian Army, navy and air force have also been put on alert and asked to provide help.

 (Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2004)