Death Toll from Indonesian Tsunami Rises to 281

The death toll from the Indonesian tsunami has exceeded 280 people. More than a thousand have been injured and at least 50 people are missing. Experts have warned that another tsunami may be on the way.

The death toll from the tsunami in Indonesia has risen to 281. In this natural disaster, more than a thousand people have been injured and the fate of at least 50 people remains unknown.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency says the number of casualties and extent of damage may be even higher. While experts have warned of another possible tsunami, rescue operations continue to save those who may still be alive under the rubble.

Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia, will visit the disaster site on Monday, December 24th, to assess the situation firsthand.

On Saturday evening, local time, an eruption of the volcano on the small island of “Anak Krakatau” triggered a tsunami in the Sunda Strait, devastating South Sumatra and West Java and destroying hundreds of buildings.

The cause of this tsunami, with waves reaching 90 centimeters in height, was an underwater landslide that occurred following the eruption of the volcano located between Java and Sumatra.

Experts have warned that as long as the “Anak Krakatau” volcano remains active, the risk of another tsunami remains high, as the volcanic activity could trigger another underwater landslide.

Indonesia has witnessed many tsunamis. However, the cause of these natural disasters has usually been earthquakes on the ocean floor, and tsunamis caused by volcanic eruptions are considered rare occurrences.

In late September, a severe earthquake occurred that triggered a tsunami on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, killing more than two thousand people. Particularly devastating was the tsunami that occurred at Christmas 2004, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 220,000 people along the shores of the Indian Ocean. 168,000 of the victims of this disaster were from Indonesia. The cause was an earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale.

Source: DW