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Tsunami Strikes Indonesia Without Warning, Killing Over 220 Tsunami Strikes Indonesia Without Warning, Killing Over 220
(about 1 hour later)
JAKARTA, Indonesia — The hunt was on Sunday for survivors of a tsunami in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait that struck without warning on the country’s two most-populated islands, killing at least 222 people, injuring more than 800 others and destroying hundreds of houses and other buildings. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The hunt was on Sunday for survivors of a tsunami in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait that struck without warning on the country’s two most-populated islands, killing at least 222 people, injuring more than 800 others and destroying hundred of houses and other buildings.
It was the second deadly tsunami in Indonesia this year, capping what will be the country’s worst year for disasters in more than a decade, with earthquakes, floods, fires and an airline crash that have killed more than 4,500 people total.It was the second deadly tsunami in Indonesia this year, capping what will be the country’s worst year for disasters in more than a decade, with earthquakes, floods, fires and an airline crash that have killed more than 4,500 people total.
The tsunami struck about 9:30 on Saturday night, when many Indonesians were at the beaches on western Java and southern Sumatra celebrating a long Christmas holiday weekend.The tsunami struck about 9:30 on Saturday night, when many Indonesians were at the beaches on western Java and southern Sumatra celebrating a long Christmas holiday weekend.
Officials said they suspect that the tsunami — with a wave at least three feet high that hit the coast — had been caused by an undersea landslide that was set off by volcanic activity on the island of Anak Krakatau. Officials said they suspect that the tsunami — with a wave nearly 10 feet high that hit the coast — had been caused by an undersea landslide that was set off by volcanic activity on the island of Anak Krakatau.
There was no seismic activity in the area, which might have prompted a tsunami evacuation alert and saved lives, they said.There was no seismic activity in the area, which might have prompted a tsunami evacuation alert and saved lives, they said.
“There was no tsunami warning,” said Rahmat Triyono, earthquake and tsunami chief at Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. “There was no earthquake.”“There was no tsunami warning,” said Rahmat Triyono, earthquake and tsunami chief at Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. “There was no earthquake.”
Officials put the number of injured at 848 and the missing at 28.Officials put the number of injured at 848 and the missing at 28.
A video posted on YouTube showed the tsunami slamming into a temporary stage erected on Tanjung Lesung Beach, on the Java coast, where a rock band was performing.A video posted on YouTube showed the tsunami slamming into a temporary stage erected on Tanjung Lesung Beach, on the Java coast, where a rock band was performing.
The band, Seventeen, was playing its second song of a set when the wave burst through a backdrop behind the stage, crashed into the drummer, his drum set and the rest of the musicians, and swept the stage into the audience.The band, Seventeen, was playing its second song of a set when the wave burst through a backdrop behind the stage, crashed into the drummer, his drum set and the rest of the musicians, and swept the stage into the audience.
The group reported that the bass player and the road manager had been killed. The lead singer, Riefan Fajarsyah, fighting back tears in an Instagram post, said that his wife, two other band members and a crew member were missing.The group reported that the bass player and the road manager had been killed. The lead singer, Riefan Fajarsyah, fighting back tears in an Instagram post, said that his wife, two other band members and a crew member were missing.
The band was performing at a gathering for families of employees of Perusahaan Listrik Negara, the state electricity company. Company officials said that 14 people attending the event had died and that 89 were missing.The band was performing at a gathering for families of employees of Perusahaan Listrik Negara, the state electricity company. Company officials said that 14 people attending the event had died and that 89 were missing.
The tsunami damaged or destroyed at least 556 homes, nine hotels, 60 small shops and 350 boats, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency.The tsunami damaged or destroyed at least 556 homes, nine hotels, 60 small shops and 350 boats, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency.
The area hit hardest was Pandeglang regency in Java’s Banten Province, site of Tanjung Lesung Beach. The area is popular with visitors from Jakarta, the capital. Videos and photos from Pandeglang showed extensive damage, with houses crushed and at least one car overturned.The area hit hardest was Pandeglang regency in Java’s Banten Province, site of Tanjung Lesung Beach. The area is popular with visitors from Jakarta, the capital. Videos and photos from Pandeglang showed extensive damage, with houses crushed and at least one car overturned.
One video showed a police officer rescuing a 5-year-old boy from a damaged home in Banten.One video showed a police officer rescuing a 5-year-old boy from a damaged home in Banten.
In a video posted on Twitter by Mr. Sutopo, the spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency, search-and-rescue workers are shown pulling two bodies from rubble.In a video posted on Twitter by Mr. Sutopo, the spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency, search-and-rescue workers are shown pulling two bodies from rubble.
Officials said the road from Pandeglang to the nearby regency of Serang had been cut off, hampering rescue efforts. Dozens also were killed across the Sunda Strait in Sumatra.Officials said the road from Pandeglang to the nearby regency of Serang had been cut off, hampering rescue efforts. Dozens also were killed across the Sunda Strait in Sumatra.
In a Twitter post, President Joko Widodo expressed his “deep sorrow” for the tsunami victims and said he had ordered government agencies to search for survivors, recover bodies and care for the injured.In a Twitter post, President Joko Widodo expressed his “deep sorrow” for the tsunami victims and said he had ordered government agencies to search for survivors, recover bodies and care for the injured.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, sits in an active volcanic and seismic area known as the Ring of Fire.Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, sits in an active volcanic and seismic area known as the Ring of Fire.
The Sunda Strait connects the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean and lies between Java, the country’s most-populous island, and Sumatra, the second-most populous.The Sunda Strait connects the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean and lies between Java, the country’s most-populous island, and Sumatra, the second-most populous.
Anak Krakatau, or the Child of Krakatau, emerged nearly a century ago from the volcanic crater of Krakatau, also called Krakatoa, which erupted in 1883 in one of the largest such events in recorded history.Anak Krakatau, or the Child of Krakatau, emerged nearly a century ago from the volcanic crater of Krakatau, also called Krakatoa, which erupted in 1883 in one of the largest such events in recorded history.
The volcanic island has been growing steadily ever since, and in recent weeks has been erupting frequently. Officials said they would investigate whether volcanic activity had set off an undersea landslide that caused the tsunami.The volcanic island has been growing steadily ever since, and in recent weeks has been erupting frequently. Officials said they would investigate whether volcanic activity had set off an undersea landslide that caused the tsunami.
“We don’t know what caused the tsunami yet,” said Mr. Rahmat of the meteorology agency. “We suspect it was caused by the Anak Krakatau activities.”“We don’t know what caused the tsunami yet,” said Mr. Rahmat of the meteorology agency. “We suspect it was caused by the Anak Krakatau activities.”
The biggest disaster to strike Indonesia in modern times was the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that hit a dozen countries on Dec. 26 in 2004. In Indonesia, it obliterated much of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra, and killed about 225,000 people.The biggest disaster to strike Indonesia in modern times was the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that hit a dozen countries on Dec. 26 in 2004. In Indonesia, it obliterated much of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra, and killed about 225,000 people.
In September this year, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the island of Sulawesi, setting off an underwater landslide and causing a tsunami that struck the city of Palu and surrounding areas. More than 2,100 people died.In September this year, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the island of Sulawesi, setting off an underwater landslide and causing a tsunami that struck the city of Palu and surrounding areas. More than 2,100 people died.
In August, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Lombok island, killing more than 550.In August, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Lombok island, killing more than 550.
The death toll from disasters in Indonesia this year is the worst since 2005, when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Yogyakarta on Java island, killing more than 5,000 people.The death toll from disasters in Indonesia this year is the worst since 2005, when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Yogyakarta on Java island, killing more than 5,000 people.