Sunday, 23 December 2018

Death toll in Indonesian tsunami tops 280, experts warn of more tidal waves

Experts have said that Saturday’s rare volcano-sparked tsunami could have been caused by an underwater collapse of part of the volcano
Residents inspect a house damaged by a tsunami, in Carita, Indonesia, on Sunday | Photo: PTI
 BSIndonesian rescuers battled heavy rains Monday in a desperate search for survivors after a volcano-triggered tsunami killed at least 281 people, with experts warning the devastated region could be slammed by more tidal waves. The national disaster agency said casualty figures were set to rise as it issued the fresh death toll — up from a previous 222 — and said more than 50 people were still missing.Over 1,000 were injured in the disaster on Saturday evening, the agency added.”The number of victims and damage will continue to rise,” said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
Rescue teams used diggers and other heavy equipment to haul debris from the stricken area around the Sunda Strait on Monday, as thousands were evacuated from the affected region. “The military and police are searching the ruins to see if we can find more victims,” said Dody Ruswandi, a senior official at the disaster agency, adding that the rescue effort was likely to last a week.|Also read: Business Standard 
Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the wave, which hit the coast of southern Sumatra and the western tip of Java around 9:30 pm (1430 GMT) on Saturday after a volcano known as the “child” of the legendary Krakatoa erupted. The destructive wave left a trail of uprooted trees and debris strewn across beaches.A tangled mess of corrugated steel roofing, timber and rubble was dragged inland at Carita beach, a popular spot for day-trippers on the west coast of Java. Dramatic video posted on social media showed a wall of water suddenly crashing into a concert by pop group “Seventeen” — hurling band members off the stage and then flooding into the audience…

Keep Reading: Tsunami in Indonesia

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