Indonesia Tsunami update: Death toll rises to 281

The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has risen to 281, with more than 1,000 people injured. It is to be noted that Tsunami, which was caused by a volcano known as the “child” of the legendary Krakatoa, hit the coast around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on Saturday night.

In a statement, the national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho confirmed the death toll. He said, “The number of victims and damage will continue to rise.”

Most number of deaths has been reported in the Pandeglang, South Lampung and Serang regions. Among the areas hit was the popular Tanjung Lesung beach resort in West Java. However, the worst affected area was the Pandeglang region of Banten province in Java. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the Tsunami wave.

Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth, straddles the so-called Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, where tectonic plates collide and a large portion of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Most recently in the city of Palu on Sulawesi island a quake and tsunami killed thousands of people.

In the year 2004, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

Importantly, Anak Krakatoa is a small volcanic island that emerged from the ocean half a century after Krakatoa’s deadly 1883 eruption. When Krakatoa erupted in the 19th century, a jet of ash, stones and smoke shot more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) into the sky, plunging the region into darkness, and sparking a huge tsunami that was felt around the world. The disaster killed more than 36,000 people.

Also Read: Indonesia tsunami: Death toll rises to 1,234, leaves citizens begging for help