The tsunami the Anak Krakatoa volcano triggered on Sunday was the second to hit Indonesia in 2018. At least 222 people have died and hundreds have been reported missing after the tidal wave struck the Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java, around 34 miles from Anak Krakatoa. Terrifying video shared on social media captured the catastrophic passage of the tsunami – which according to local authorities levelled more than 430 houses and damaged several of the beach resorts located in the area.
The harrowing videos include footage of local rock band Seventeen being swept away by a massive wave as they performed for over 100 employees of state utility company PLN at the Tanjung Lesung Beach Resort on the island of Java.
Both bassist M. Awal Purbani, known as Bani, and manager Oki Wijaya were killed by the tsunami. Seventeen said in a statement: “The water washed away the stage which was located very close to the sea.
“The water rose and dragged away everyone at the location. We have lost loved ones, including our bassist and manager and others are missing.”
According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Krakatau erupted at just after 9pm local time (2pm GMT) and the tsunami struck at around 9.30pm (2.30pm GMT) on Saturday.
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All victims have so far been tied to four affected districts in Pandeglang, Serang, South Lampung and Tanggamus Regencies.
However many tourists were injured by the deadly wave and the death toll of 222 is expected to rise.
A statement from the National Board for Disaster Management has confirmed so far no international tourists were caught in the tsunami.
The agency said: “Pandeglang District recorded 164 people died, 624 people injured, 2 people missing.
“Physical damage included 446 damaged houses, 9 damaged hotels, 60 damaged shops, 350 damaged ships and boats, and 73 damaged vehicles.
“Areas affected in 10 sub-districts. The locations that were found by many victims were Mutiara Hotel Carita Cottage, Tanjung Lesung Hotel and Sambolo Village.”
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Professor David Rothery, professor of Planetary Geosciences at the Open University, revealed it is incredibly difficult to create adequate warning systems for the Indonesian volcano.
He said: “Today’s tsunami appears to have been caused by an underwater collapse of part of the new island and that has been forming as the volcano grows.
“Tsunami warning buoys are positioned to warn of tsunamis originated by earthquakes at underwater tectonic plate boundaries.
“Even if there had been such about right next to Anak Krakatau, this is so close to the affected shorelines that warning time would have been minimal given the high speeds at which tsunami waves travel.”
Indonesia sits on the dangerous Ring of Fire, a girdle of volcanos that circle the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire formed when ocean plates crashed and slid under lighter continental plates, in a process known as subduction.
There are 452 volcanoes based in the 25,000-mile ring. Around 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire since records began, which increases the risk for tidal waves such as the one which Indonesia.
The recent increase in seismic activity has caused scientists to warn that a ‘Big’ earthquake could soon hit. The majority of these have been below a magnitude of 4, however, Indonesia, Canada, Chile and California have all experienced quakes over magnitude 4.