Update Sunda Strait Tsunami: Death Toll Rise to 429 Killed

Jakarta, MINA – Until Tuesday at 1:00 p.m, the impact of the tsunami wave that hit most of the Sunda Strait coastal area increased to 429 people killed, 1,485 injured, 154 lost, and 16,082 were displaced.

“This data continue to grow up from the previous data because untreated areas have been recorded. This data is still temporary, “said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency while giving a press statement at Graha BNPB, Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Sutopo, the absence of tsunami early warning is one of the causes of the number of victims. Indonesia has not had the tsunami detection device yet caused by underwater avalanches or volcanic eruptions.

“Nobody thought that the eruption of Anak Krakatau in that night would cause the tsunami. This is a challenge for us to develop the tsunami detection system caused by volcanic eruptions, “he said.

Sutopo continued that the most severe area affected by the tsunami is Pandeglang District, so the government set an emergency response period in this area for 14 days since December 22. Meanwhile, the emergency response period in South Lampung is set for 7 days.

“This is still very possible to be extended considering that until now the situation is still not conducive. Not all of the areas affected can be reached by officers today,” he said.

He explained the slow handling of victims was due to many damaged roads and bridges, so that it took time. Government includes that disaster into regional disasters, not in national disasters.

“The height of the tsunami up to 2 meters according to some eyewitness at the location even some said 5 meters, so the officers formed a team to map how high the tsunami actually was, “he said. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)