Jakarta, Indonesia • A spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency says at least 62 people have died and 20 are still missing after a tsunami apparently triggered by a volcanic eruption swept away beachfront houses and hotels in western Indonesia.
Approximately 600 people were hurt and dozens of buildings damaged Saturday night, the National Disaster Management Agency said.
Scientists say the tsunami could have been caused by the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island formed over years from the nearby Krakatau volcano. They also cited tidal waves caused by the full moon.
The number of victims is likely to increase because not all affected areas have been assessed, said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
“I had to run, as the wave passed the beach and landed 15-20 meters inland,” Øystein Lund Andersen wrote on Facebook. He said he was taking pictures of the volcano when he suddenly saw a big wave come toward him.
Posted by Øystein Lund Andersen on Saturday, December 22, 2018
“Next wave entered the hotel area where I was staying and downed cars on the road behind it. Managed to evacuate with my family to higher ground trough forest paths and villages, where we are taken care of [by] the locals. Were unharmed, thankfully.”
The areas that were affected were South Lampung in Sumatra and the Serang and Pandeglang regions of Java, west of the capital Jakarta. The Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Footage posted by the head of the disaster agency showed the aftermath of flooded streets and an overturned car.
Data sementara dampak tsunami di Pantai di Kab Pandeglang, Serang dan Lampung Selatan hingga 23/12/2018 pukul 04.30 WIB: tercatat 20 orang meninggal dunia, 165 orang luka-luka, 2 orang hilang dan puluhan bangunan rusak. Data korban kemungkinan masih akan terus bertambah. pic.twitter.com/6f7buuoD5Y
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) December 22, 2018
In September, more than 2,500 people were killed by a quake and tsunami that hit the city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, which is just east of Borneo.
from The Salt Lake Tribune http://bit.ly/2CvgBGg
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