MEDIA ALERT ˆ TSUNAMI RELATED

For tsunami and earthquake-related travel information and recommendations, Phil Sylvester, Travel Safety Expert at WorldNomads.com (http://worldnomads.com), is a source for updates on stricken areas in the wake of the tsunami that is working its way across the Pacific Ocean following the massive earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale that hit Japan early today. Please contact him through their US representative, Alexia Nestora at 1.303.898.3376, alexia@lassocommunications.com

He advises that following this disaster people should not overload phone lines with non-emergency calls and that travelers when they can access a telephone should call their country‚s Consulate or Embassy to let them know their whereabouts and if assistance is needed. If a traveler becomes unwell within six weeks of returning with fever, rash, respiratory illness or any other unusual symptoms, the traveler should seek medical attention and advise that they were recently in a Disaster-affected region.

The Galapagos

Against the possibility that the tsunami may reach as far as the Galapagos, precautions were taken at 6:30 a.m. this morning to evacuate guests of Red Mangrove Galapagos & Ecuador Lodges (http://www.redmangrove.com/) to the highlands of each island, Floreana, Isabela, Santa Cruz and Samai, with enough provisions of water and food to pass the emergency.

From Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com/), operator of four tour vessels in the Galapagos; the tsunami is expected to arrive in Galapagos later this afternoon, the exact time could be anywhere from 3 to 7 p.m. local Galapagos time. Flights to Galapagos today have been cancelled and there is an evacuation order in effect. All tour boats are required to leave port and be at least five miles offshore. The local populations were to seek higher ground in the highlands and mid sections of the Islands by noon today. All shore excursions today have been cancelled. The Flamingo and Letty, currently with passengers on board, will sail towards Santa Fe Island and stay 15 miles in between the islands. The Galapagos Sky, anchored in Cristobal will sail offshore and the ERIC is dry docked in Guayaquil.

Pacific Coastal Regions

AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/) reports that all of its travelers are safe and accounted for. Some precautionary evacuations are taking place in Pacific Coastal regions. The company will keep its Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations posted as the situation develops. Concerned travelers, relatives and friends can call their office at 1-800-728-2875 or 530-583-1775.