JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec 25 The total casualty of a tsunami, triggered by the eruption of Krakatau Child volcano, has increased to 168 people in coastal areas of Sunda Strait of western Indonesia, disaster agency official said here on Sunday.
The catastrophe killed at least 168 people, wounded at least 745 and collapsed a total of 430 houses and nine hotels, and caused damages to scores of ships, spokesman of national disaster management agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said.
“The figures are expected to rise as the current risk assessment has not reached all affected areas,” he told a press conference.
Evacuation for the victims of the tsunami striking Pandeglang district, the worst hit area, in Banten province, Serang district of the province, and Lampung Selatan district in Lampung district, is being undertaken by rescuers, said Sutopo.
A total of 624 injured people are being treated in Pandeglang district, he added.
Huge waves rattled residential areas and several tourist destinations along the coastal areas of Sunda Strait, including Pangdeglang, Pantai Tanjung Lesung, Sumur, Penimbang, Teluk Lada dan Carita.
“When the tragedy occurred, many people were spending their time along the coastal areas of Pandeglang,” Sutopo said.
The waters submerged the area with the height of four to five metres, leaving scores of people missing, head of emergency department of disaster management agency in the district, Endang Permana, said.
Possible cause of Tsunami
“Many people were missing, they were swept by waves when they were watching a performance in the coastal area,” Permana, said.
In Lampung Selatan district, evacuation of those under the rubble of collapsed buildings and search for missing persons who were swept by waves during the tsunami are getting underway, said Ketut Sukerta, head of disaster management agency in the district.
“Over 100 buildings collapsed, we are now attempting to rescue the people trapped under the rubble and to find those swept by the waves,” he said.– NNN-ANTARA