Photos & videos of the aftermath of Indonesia's 'volcano' tsunami are absolutely terrifying

Over 300 deaths and counting.

Joshua Lee | December 25, 2018, 03:26 PM

On December 22, a deadly tsunami hit Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. Over 300 people have been reported dead and hundreds injured.

Authorities think that the currently-erupting Anak Krakatoa, a volcanic island situated in the Sunda Strait is the cause of the tsunami.

The red pin is where Anak Krakotoa lies. Image via Google Maps.

Tsunami hit without warning

Unlike previous tsunamis, the latest one was not preceded by an earthquake.

Instead, the volcanic eruption might have caused part of the volcano's side to collapse, triggering  an underwater landslide. The displaced land can cause an abnormal tidal surge, resulting in a tsunami.

Because there was no earthquake to serve as a warning for those along the coastlines nearest to Anak Krakatoa, many people were caught off guard by the sudden water surge.

According to the Head of Public Relations at the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the December 22 eruption was not Anak Krakatoa's biggest.

Instead, the volcano had more violent eruptions in October and November this year. Here's a video and some photos of the eruption on December 22:

[video width="848" height="480" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2018/12/dlh2Iug3EqEh_7nI.mp4"][/video]

Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

As of December 25, the Indonesian authorities are still moving to provide assistance and supplies to affected areas. Here are some photos and footage of the aftermath, taken from Sutopo's Twitter:

 

According to Sutopo, more than 400 houses and 9 hotels collapsed, as of December 23. Many sea vessels were also damaged. Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

 

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Tsunami en Indonesia, más de 200 muertos se cuantifican hasta ahora . Según las autoridades, el tsunami que azotó Indonesia la madrugada de hoy, podría haberlo provocado un aumento repentino de la marea debido a la Luna Nueva combinada con una avalancha submarina tras la erupción del volcán Anak Krakatoa (el 'hijo de Krakatoa'), que forma una pequeña isla en el estrecho de la Sonda. "La combinación provocó un tsunami repentino que golpeó la costa", indicó Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, de la Agencia Nacional de Desastres, las autoridades también trabajan para intentar dilucidar cómo se produjo exactamente. Indonesia, una de las zonas más proclives a sufrir catástrofes de la Tierra, se encuentra en el llamado Cinturón de Fuego del Pacífico, donde coinciden placas tectónicas y se producen una gran parte de las erupciones volcánicas y sismos del planeta. #misionverdad #mv #infomv #desastresnaturales #tsunami #indonesia #cinturondefuego #anakkrakatoa #krakatoa #ola #nature #news #media #volcano

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📰Número de mortos após tsunami na Indonésia chega a 373. Mais de 1.400 pessoas ficaram feridas e mais de 100 ainda estão desaparecidas. O tsunami foi provocado pela erupção do vulcão Anak Krakatoa. 📰 Acesse o site do jornal no link da bio para mais informações. #AcheiUSA o #PontodeEncontro dos  #BrasileirosnaAmerica #Jornal #Radio #Noticias #News #Informacao #BreakingNews #Imigracao #Imigrantes #Achei #Tsunami #Indonesia #Vulcao #AnakKrakatoa #ClassificadosGratis #EmpregonosEUA #Negocios #Esportes #MoraremMiami #MiamiLife #VidanosEUA #MorarnosEUA #America #BrasileirosemMiami #BrasileirosemOrlando  #BrasileirosnaFlorida #BrasileirosnosEUA #BrasileirosnoExterior

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Areas along the coastline were also flattened. Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

 

Indonesian authorities, armed forces, and volunteers are trying to reach affected areas to deliver supplies and medical aid. Unfortunately, many of the the roads are damaged, hence access is restricted. Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

Indonesian armed forces and police jointly conduct search and rescue, as well s deliver supplies. Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

 

The tsunami knocked out wide swathes of electrical networks. Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

The death toll continues to rise. As of December 25, the estimated body count has reached 373. Here's a video of the search and rescue team extricating a body from the wreck:

[video width="640" height="352" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2018/12/oCb7zsGNr4Bgaw2s.mp4"][/video]

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Sobe para 281 número de mortos em tsunami na Indonésia⠀ -⠀ . . . Autoridades da Indonésia confirmaram hoje (24) que chegou a 281 o número de mortos em decorrência do tsunami que atingiu as ilhas de Java e Sumatra há pouco mais de 24 horas. Há 1.016 pessoas feridas e 57 desaparecidas. Segundo as autoridades, o número pode ser ainda maior, pois a extensão total do dano ainda é desconhecida.⠀ -⠀ Na madrugada desta segunda-feira (24), foram reiniciadas as buscas por desaparecidos em torno dos prédios que desmoronaram perto da costa em Pandeglang, no oeste de Java. As equipes de resgate não têm maquinário suficiente para as atividades.⠀ -⠀ Até ontem (23), o Ministério das Relações Exteriores do Brasil, o Itamaraty, não tinha informações de brasileiros entre as vítimas. Porém, deixou um canal de comunicação para eventuais informações.⠀ -⠀ Segurança⠀ -⠀ As autoridades indonésias afastaram os moradores das áreas costeiras, pois há ameaça de outro tsunami ocorrer, uma vez que um vulcão no Estreito de Sunda, entre Java e Sumatra, está ativo. Especialistas suspeitam que o tsunami de ontem (23) tenha sido causado por deslizamentos de terra causados pela erupção do vulcão Krakatau.⠀#Cotidiano #tsunami #Indonésia #Indonésia #tsunami #terremoto #Pandenglang #Jacarta #SumatraJava #mortos #vulcão #AnakKrakatoa #PortalPE10

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Volcano is still active, more tsunamis coming

While Indonesia is still reeling from Anak Krakatoa's damage, the authorities cautioned that there might be more tsunamis coming. According to Sutopo, Anak Krakatoa is still growing and has been erupting almost every day for the past three months:

Histogram showing activity from Anak Krakatoa. There has been an eruption almost every day for the past three months. Via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.

Sutopo also cautioned that people should stay alert and keep out of the danger zone which covers a 2km radius from the crater.

Top images via Sutopo Purwo Nugroho Twitter.