The death toll from a tsunami in Indonesia rose to more than 200 people on Sunday, as the late-night wave hit the coasts of Sumatra and Java along the Sunda Strait.
The tsunami is believed to have been caused by a landslide triggered by the eruption of island volcano Anak Krakatau, which is in the strait between the two islands.
The country’s Disaster Management Agency said more than 800 others were injured when the wave struck at 9:27 p.m., per the Associated Press.
“Unthinkable devastation from the tsunami disaster in Indonesia,” said President Trump, offering prayers for recovery and healing in a midday tweet Sunday.
Unthinkable devastation from the tsunami disaster in Indonesia. More than two hundred dead and nearly a thousand injured or unaccounted for. We are praying for recovery and healing. America is with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Sunday the international body is ready to support the country’s rescue and relief efforts.
.@antonioguterres is deeply saddened by the loss of life, injuries and damage caused by the tsunami that struck the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra yesterday. The @UN is ready to support ongoing Government-led rescue & relief efforts. Read more: https://t.co/WEqIoYnlei
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) December 23, 2018
The Sunda Strait tsunami was the second to hit Indonesia this year. In September, 2,500 people died after a tsunami struck the island of Sulawesi.
A powerful earthquake shook the island before that tsunami, giving residents a warning that last night’s victims did not receive, the AP reported.
Instead, local scientists said the tsunami was likely caused by landslides either on Anak Krakatau or underwater, plus tidal waves caused by the full moon. The country’s Meteorology and Geophysics agency said the active island volcano erupted 24 minutes before the tsunami.
“Actually, the tsunami was not really big, only 1 meter [3.3 feet],” said Gegar Prasetya, co-founder of the Tsunami Research Center Indonesia, per the AP. “The problem is people always tend to build everything close to the shoreline.”
Among the dead and missing were members of a local rock band, Seventeen, which had been performing at a party on Tanjung Lesung beach when the wave hit.
“The water washed away the stage which was located very close to the sea,” the band said in a statement that revealed its bassist, guitarist, and road manager were killed and two other members are missing. “The water rose and dragged away everyone at the location.”
Officials said the the Pandeglang region of Java’s Banten province, which are home to Ujung Kulon National Park and popular beaches, saw the worst of the holiday weekend disaster.
Indonesia was also hit by an earthquake and tsunami near Christmas in 2004. More than 230,000 people, most of them in Indonesia, died during the Dec. 26 disaster.
