At least 222 have been killed and a further 745 injured after a tsunami hit the Sundra Strait in Indonesia, the BBC reports.
The waves hit coastal towns at night without any warning, with officials saying the tsunami may have been caused by undersea landslides that happened after Anak Krakatau volcano had erupted.
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The tsunami struck at around 9.30pm local time (2.30pm GMT) on Saturday evening, striking beaches on the Sundra Strait, which lies between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.
According to a statement from Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika (the Meterology, Climatology and Geophysics Council), areas affected include Pandeglang regency, Serang and South Lampung.
Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told reporters the western coast of Banten province in Java was the worst hit area.
Nugroho apologised after initially saying the public should not panic as the wave was a tidal surge and not a tsunami, explaining there had been confusion because no earthquake had been recorded.
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He said: "It was caused by a combination of an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau and a tidal wave."
Eyewitness AsepPerangkat said 'cars were dragged about 10 metres, and so were containers', telling AFP: "Buildings on the edge of [Carita] beach were destroyed, trees and electricity poles fell to the ground."
Red Cross official Kathy Mueller told the BBC that the main road into Pandeglang has been badly damaged, which had made it difficult for rescuers to reach the area.
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"There is debris littering the ground, crushed cars, crushed motorcycles, we're seeing buildings that are collapsed," she said.
Hundreds of homes and other buildings have been completely wiped out or heavily damaged.
The tsunami also washed away an outdoor stage where local band Seventeen was performing in Tanjung Lesung in Banten province - a tourist area that isn't far from Jakarta. At least one musician was killed in the incident, while others are said to be missing.
Singer Riefian 'Ifan' Fajarsyah said in a video on Instagram: "We lost our bassist, Bani and our manager Oki."
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He said his wife, actress Dylan Sahara, and several other band members were among those missing.
Ifan added: "The rest of us are safe, despite injuries and bone fractures."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: indonesia, World News, News