At least 168 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds have been injured after a tidal wave struck the west coast of Indonesia. Authorities have confirmed 30 people are still missing and another 745 were injured by the deadly tidal wave. The rising death toll comes after an eruption of the nearby Krakatoa volcano caused deadly waves to smash into a concert last night, forcing locals to flee for their lives.
The 16ft (five metre) high wave hit beaches around the Sunda Strait – the latest in a succession of disasters to strike the archipelago nation this year.
Cars were dragged about 10 metres and so were containers
Witness Asep Perangkat
The epicentre of the tragedy was between the islands of Java and Sumatra at about 9.30pm Eastern Indonesia Time on Saturday.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management, has confirmed at 6am UK time a total of 556 houses were levelled by the tsunami.
The volcano has been particularly animated since June, repeatedly spewing huge plumes of ash into the atmosphere.
And a tour boat was nearly struck by erupting lava bombs in October.
The volcanic island appeared in 1928 out of Krakatoa’s caldera, the volcano responsible for the 1883 eruption – the most violent recorded in history.
Anak Krakatoa has been continually active since it emerged, with eruptions once every two to three years.
Dramatic footage has show victims running for their lives as entire buildings were tossed aside when the wall of water hit.
And other video shows people watching a music concert by band Seventeen last night until the stage suddenly collapses.
People are seen screaming in terror as they fled the tsunami, which immediately engulfs all those on stage.
Some of the group have now been reported missing by their lead singer.
Asep Perangkat, who fled Carita beach Saturday night, described how the monstrous wave carved through the town.
Mr Perangkat said: “Cars were dragged about 10 metres and so were containers.
“Buildings on the edge of the beach were destroyed, trees and electric poles fell to the ground.
“All the residents that are safe ran to the forest.”
“The worst hit area is Pandeglang district, along the coastal area, including residential and tourist areas in the Tanjung Lesung beach, Lesung beach, Teluk Lada, Panimbang and Carita beach.”
The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency said: “The Geological Agency detected at 21.03 local time the Anak Krakatau erupted.
“It’s possible the materials around Anak Krakatau collapsed to the sea and triggered the tsunami and affected beaches around Sunda Strait.”
The agency added the tsunami struck just 24 minutes after the volcano erupted.
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