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Biorock Reefs in Maldives Survive Tsunami Unscratched 

January 3, 2005.  The following is a message received from the Maldives relative to how Biorock reef structures survived the recent tsunami.

My name is Abdul Azeez A. Hakeem, Director of Conservation, Banyan Tree Maldives, Vabbinfaru.

The Biorock structures in the Maldives were not damaged at all when the killer tsunami hit us. No corals on these structures were damaged. In the house reef of Vabbinfaru, I have seen massive corals fallen and table corals broken. The sea wall around Male' was not damaged. 

The wave which hit Vabbinfaru was about one meter high, salt water rushed inside the island. About 21 tourist resorts were hit badly. The worst effected areas were on the eastern side of the Maldives. Many inhabited islands were devastated. In some inhabited islands the tsunami was about 4-5 meters high. In these islands, many houses were destroyed.  

Abdul Azeez A. Hakeem

Director of Conservation

Banyan Tree Maldives

Vabbinfaru, Maldives