Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 24 deceMber 2018

Tsunami hits without warning in Indonesia, killing over 220

By NINIEK KARMINI Lumpung provinces,” he
Associated Press said. “Hopefully, those who
CARITA BEACH, Indonesia are left have patience.”
(AP) — The deadly tsunami Trump tweeted support for
struck in the dark, without Indonesia: “We are praying
warning. for recovery and healing.
At least 222 people were America is with you!”
killed as waves smashed In the city of Bandar Lam-
into houses, hotels and oth- pung on Sumatra, hundreds
er beachside buildings Sat- of residents took refuge at
urday night along Indone- the governor’s office, while
sia’s Sunda Strait, in a disas- at the popular resort area
ter that followed an erup- of Anyer beach on Java,
tion and possible landslide some survivors wandered in
on Anak Krakatau, one of the debris.
the world’s most infamous Tourists who were enjoying
volcanic islands. the long holiday weekend
More than 800 others were ahead of Christmas were
injured and dozens were also affected.
reported missing after the “I had to run, as the wave
tsunami hit coastal areas passed the beach and
along western Java and landed 15-20m (meters,
southern Sumatra islands Debris littered a property badly damaged by a tsunami in Carita, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 23, or 50-65 feet) inland,” said
at 9:27 p.m. Saturday amid 2018. Norwegian Oystein Lund
a Christmas holiday week- Associated Press Andersen, in a Facebook
end, the Disaster Manage- ing, “Sea water rising!” a tent on popular Tanjung face and dragged all the post. The self-described
ment Agency said. The Kurniawan, who was un- Lesung beach at a concert people on site,” the state- photographer and volcano
death toll could increase dergoing vocational train- for employees of a state- ment said. “Unfortunately, enthusiast said he was tak-
once authorities hear from ing with a group of 30 other owned electricity compa- when the current receded, ing pictures of the volcano
all stricken areas. students, said he was con- ny. Dozens of people sat at our members were unable when he suddenly saw the
It was the second deadly fused because he had not tables while others swayed to save themselves while water racing toward him.
tsunami to hit Indonesia this felt a big earthquake. He to the music near the stage some did not find a place He and his family fled safely
year, but the one that killed said he ran to the parking as strobe lights flashed to hold on.” to higher ground.
more than 2,500 people on lot to try to reach his motor- and theatrical smoke was Disaster agency spokes- The damage became ap-
the island of Sulawesi on bike but discovered it was released. A child could man Sutopo Purwo Nu- parent after daybreak
Sept. 28 was accompanied already flooded. also be seen wandering groho said 222 deaths had Sunday. Nine hotels and
by a powerful earthquake “Suddenly, a 1-meter (3.3- through the crowd. been confirmed and at hundreds of homes were
that gave residents a brief foot) wave hit me,” he said, Seconds later, with the least 843 people were in- heavily damaged by the
warning before the waves his eyes red and swollen drummer pounding just as jured. waves. Broken chunks of
struck. from crying. “I was thrown the next song was about The worst-affected area concrete and splintered
On Saturday night, the into the fence of a build- to begin, the stage sud- was the Pandeglang re- sticks of wood littered hard-
ground did not shake be- ing about 30 meters (100 denly heaved forward and gion of Java’s Banten prov- hit coastal areas, turning
forehand to alert people feet) from the beach and buckled under the force of ince, which encompasses beach getaways popular
to the oncoming wave that held onto the fence as the water, tossing the band Ujung Kulon National Park with Jakarta residents into
ripped buildings from their strong as I could, trying to and its equipment into the and popular beaches, the near ghost towns. Vehicles
foundations in seconds resist the water, which felt audience. agency said. were tossed into the rubble
and swept terrified con- like it would drag me back The group released a state- Indonesian President or were buried under col-
certgoers on a popular re- into the sea. I cried in fear ment saying their bass play- Joko “Jokowi” Widodo lapsed roofs. Debris from
sort beach into the sea. ... ‘This is a tsunami?’ I was er, guitarist and road man- expressed his sympathy thatch-bamboo shacks
Azki Kurniawan, 16, said afraid I would die.” ager were killed, while two and ordered government was strewn along beaches.
his first warning about the Dramatic video posted on other band members and agencies to respond quick- Yellow, orange and black
tsunami was when people social media showed the the wife of one of the per- ly to the disaster. body bags were laid out,
burst into the lobby of the Indonesian pop band Sev- formers were missing. “My deep condolences to and weeping relatives
Patra Comfort Hotel shout- enteen performing under “The tide rose to the sur- the victims in Banten and identified the dead.q