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Indonesia Struck By Earthquake Less Than 24 Hours After Tsunami Kills At Least 222

Indonesia Struck By Earthquake Less Than 24 Hours After Tsunami Kills At Least 222

The quake is believed to have measured 5.0 on the magnitude scale and a depth of 105.8km

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

An earthquake has struck Indonesia, just less than 24 hours after a tsunami killed at least 222 people in the island nation.

According to Chinese network CGTN, the earthquake - which hit Tiku - is believed to have measured 5.0 on the magnitude scale and a depth of 105.8km.

It is not yet known whether or not there have been any causalities from the quake.

A tsunami had hit coastal towns on the Sundra Strait, which lies between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, at around 9.30pm local time (2.30pm GMT) on Saturday 23 December.

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.

The waves hit without any warning, with officials saying the tsunami may have been caused by undersea landslides that happened after Anak Krakatau volcano had erupted.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho has 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.

Nugroho told reporters the western coast of Banten province in Java was the worst hit area.

He said: "It was caused by a combination of an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau and a tidal wave."

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.

"There is debris littering the ground, crushed cars, crushed motorcycles, we're seeing buildings that are collapsed," she said.

The tsunami was apparently caused by a combination of an undersea landslide, resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau and a tidal wave.
PA

Eyewitness Asep Perangkat also 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."

Some members of the local band Seventeen were also killed in the tsunami as they performed on stage.

In an emotional post to his Instagram account, the band's lead singer Riefian 'Ifan' Fajarsyah broke down as he told his 300,000 followers that his friends were missing.

In a statement released by the group, it was revealed that Awal 'Bani' Purbani, road manager Oki Wijaya, guitarist Herman Sikumbang, and crew member Ujang, were found dead.

They also confirmed that two other band members and - reportedly - Ifan's wife had still not been found.

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Topics: indonesia, World News, Earthquake, News