America is with you: President Trump tweets solidarity with victims of the Indonesia tsunami that’s killed at least 222
- A 20ft wave came crashing down on the beaches in the Sunda Strait overnight
- The death toll stands at 222 while the number of injured is more than 800
- President Trump tweeted prayers for the victims, writing ‘America is with you!’
- An official warned Sunday that the risk of more tsunamis isn’t over
President Trump has tweeted his condolences for the victim’s of Indonesia’s tsunami that has so far killed 222 and left 843 injured.
‘Unthinkable devastation from the tsunami disaster in Indonesia. More than two hundred dead and nearly a thousand injured or unaccounted for. We are praying for recovery and healing. America is with you!,’ Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon.
The 20ft wave came crashing down on the beaches around the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra, overnight, destroying more than 500 homes and leaving a further 30 people missing.
Speaking at a news conference on the island of Java, National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho warned that the risk of more tsunamis wasn’t over.
President Trump tweeted prayers for the victims, writing ‘America is with you!’
A 20ft wave came crashing down on the beaches in the Sunda Strait overnight
Debris is seen in Rajabasa district in South Lampung, Indonesia, as recovery workers are called in to try to find survivors
Nugroho said: ‘Recommendations from Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) are that people should not carry out activities on the beach and stay away from the coast for a while.
‘The potential for a fresh tsunami is still possible because the volcanic eruption of Anak Krakatau continues to occur, potentially triggering tsunami.’
It’s reported that 500 houses, nine hotels, 60 food stalls and 350 boats have been destroyed.
Scientists say the tsunami was probably caused by the eruption of Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatoa), a volcanic island formed over years from the previous Krakatau volcano which erupted and killed 36,000 in 1883.
The Meteorology and Geophysics agency also said tidal waves may have been strengthened by the full moon. Undersea landslides from the eruption of Anak Krakatau – an island formed from previous blasts from Krakatoa – were recorded 24 minutes before the tsunami struck.
The volcano has been on a high-level eruption watchlist for the past decade.
A huge search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday morning to find survivors and move the dead.
The hunt for survivors: Men and women have been clawing through the mud and water and pieces of building to try and find survivors
The volcanic island Anak Krakatoa stands 1200ft above sea level after first emerging from the depths of the ocean in 1937
Body bags are lining the streets in zones created by search and rescue teams. Indonesian families have been left devastated by the natural disaster
Among those who miraculously survived was a boy named Ali.
Police revealed on social media how they pulled him from a car which had been trapped under fallen trees.
A police officer revealed on Instagram how the boy’s cries were heard as officers rushed to the scene to carefully remove wood and other island debris from the car.
Jaw dropping footage shows the exact moment the monstrous wave came crashing down on stage where a boy band was playing, leaving four of the band members dead.
A video which was being recorded in the seconds before the wave hit showed families enjoying a performance by Seventeen when suddenly the entire stage is smashed to pieces by the wave.
The band’s lead singer Riefian ‘Ifan’ Fajarsyah told his 300,000 followers in a tearful video Sunday he was looking for the rest of the band.
The group later released a statement saying their bass player, guitarist and road manager were found dead, while two other band members and the wife of one of the performers remained missing.
Damaged buildings and cars are seen in Anyer, Serang as recovery workers are called in to try and find survivors