At least 62 reported dead and 600 injured from a tsunami was caused by the eruption of the Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa) volcano which is a volcanic island between the islands of Java and Samatra in the Sunda Strait in the Indonesian province.
“In 1927, a new island, Anak Krakatau, or “Child of Krakatoa”, emerged from the caldera formed in 1883 and is the current location of eruptive activity.”
According to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the tsunami wave was possibly triggered by underwater landslides caused by the eruption combined with “an abnormal tidal surge due to a new moon,” the Straits Times reports.
“The tsunami hit several areas of the Sunda Strait, including beaches in Pandeglang regency, Serang, and South Lampung,” the agency said.
Video footage posted to social media by Dr Supoto showed panicked residents clutching flashlights and fleeing for higher ground.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the tsunami was detected at four locations in the provinces of Banten and Lampung at 9.27pm local time.
The highest of the waves was a 90cm tsunami recorded at Jambu Beach in Banten. Another 350cm wave hit Ciwandan seaport in Banten, while two other 360cm waves struck Kota Agung and Panjang seaport in Lampung.
Straits Times
The head of the BMKG earthquake and tsunami department Mr Rahmat Triyono explained the Anak Krakatau volcano has been active since June and that the “amplitude of Saturday’s eruption was not the biggest” adding, however, though a tsunami caused in this manner is rare, “as long as there is increased activity” more tsunamis were possible.
[h/t gux]
Anak Krakatau on its Paroxysmal Eruption
Galih Jati Published on Dec 22, 2018
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