The death toll in the volcano-triggered tsunami that hit the coast of southern Sumatra and the western tip of Java in Indonesia on Saturday night has risen to 281.
The Indonesian national disaster agency released the updated casualty figures on Monday morning, adding more than 1,000 people had been injured as search operations continued. Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo said, “the number of victims and [extent of] damage will continue to rise.”
Most of the victims were Indonesian holiday-makers. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is expected to visit the disaster-hit areas on Monday.
Meanwhile, researchers claimed on Monday that a landslide triggered by a large chunk of the Anak Krakatau volcano falling into the sea could have triggered the volcano. Researchers based their statement on satellite imagery and other available information. Anak Krakatau had been spewing lava and ash for several months. It erupted for about 24 minutes before the tsunami struck.
The researchers also said the fact the tsunami was triggered by a volcano, and not an earthquake, meant no tsunami warning was issued as there were no early-warning stations that could detect such tsunamis.