Updated
At least 43 people have been killed on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra when a tsunami struck areas around the Sunda Strait late on Saturday following a sub-sea landslide caused by a volcano.
Key points:
- The tsunami was the result of an underwater landslide caused by volcanic activity
- Pandeglang regency, Serang, and South Lampung were inundated with water
- Indonesian authorities have said they are not aware of any foreigners affected
According to a statement by the government’s Disaster Mitigation Agency, another 584 people had been injured in the incident.
“It was caused by a combination of an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau and a tidal wave,” disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
Hundreds of homes were damaged in the incident and at least two people were missing, Mr Nugroho added.
According to a statement from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, “the tsunami hit several areas of the Sunda Strait, including beaches in Pandeglang regency, Serang, and South Lampung”.
The tsunami struck about 9.30pm local time, it said.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the Australian Embassy in Jakarta was making urgent enquiries to determine whether any Australians have been affected by the tsunami.
Indonesian authorities have said they are not aware of any foreigners affected as yet.
Tourist Oystein Lund Andersen was taking photos of the volcano when he said he saw a large wave.
“I had to run, as the wave passed the beach and landed 15 to 20 metres inland,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Next wave entered the hotel area where I was staying and downed cars on the road behind it.
“Managed to evacuate with my family to higher ground through forest paths and villages, where we are taken care of [by] the locals.”
He said he and his family were unharmed.
Endan Permana, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency in Pandeglang, told Metro TV that police were providing immediate assistance to victims in Tanjung Lesung in Banten province, a popular tourist getaway not far from Jakarta, as emergency workers had not arrived in the area yet.
“Many are missing,” Mr Permana said.
There was initial confusion over the tsunami, with Mr Nugroho initially tweeting that the flooding was the result of extreme tides caused by the full moon.
Mr Nugroho corrected his tweets hours later, confirming it was a tsunami after receiving updated data.
He said the eruption of Krakatau was “not large”.
The Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.
In September, at least 832 people were killed by an earth quake and tsunami that hit the city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, which is just east of Borneo.
Krakatau’s most recent eruption was in October last year.
ABC/Wires
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