Death toll from a tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra after the Anak Krakatau volcano erupted, has risen to at least 280 officials said.
They added that rescuers are using heavy machinery and their bare hands to search for more victims. Hundreds more were injured when the tsunami struck, almost without warning, along the rim of the Sunday Strait late on Saturday.
Over 3,000 coastal residents were forced to evacuate to higher ground, with a high-tide warning in place until Tuesday. The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade.
Earthquakes flattened parts of the tourist island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on Sulawesi Island in September. Search and rescue officials used their bare hands and some heavy machinery to clear the remains of buildings on Monday.
Indonesia’s disaster agency had put the death toll at 222 on Sunday, with about 850 injured and 28 people missing, but raised it to 280 early on Monday. A disaster mitigation agency official in Banten province named Jhony told reporters most victims were Indonesian holidaymakers.
The timing of the tsunami over the Christmas holiday season evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on Dec. 26, 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.
Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe has been making waves with his standout performance in Omoni Oboli’s romantic drama, Love in Every… Read More
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Asake has once again found himself at the center of controversy after a Nigerian man publicly alleged… Read More
A Nigerian businesswoman has been left in tears and distress after officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug… Read More
Rema, discussed strange online rumors about himself in an interview with Rolling Stone. He has faced accusations of being part… Read More
A video on social media shows a surprising incident involving the US President during a press briefing. The event took… Read More
Isaac Fayose comments on the controversy surrounding singer Asake and his father. Emphasizes the importance of kindness and compassion in… Read More
This website uses cookies.