Hundreds dead in tsunami
Pop band members and fans washed away
A DEVASTATING tsunami that slammed into Indonesia has killed at least 222 people, but the death toll could still soar.
Hundreds died and more than 840 more were injured when a 20ft-high wall of water, triggered by the Krakatoa volcano, hit the coast.
The tsunami, thought to have been caused by undersea landslides, destroyed hundreds of buildings, crushed cars and brought electricity poles crashing down.
Footage captured the moment water crashed through the stage where Indonesian pop group Seventeen were playing, washing away band members and fans.
About 200 people had gathered for the end-of-year party at Tanjung Lesung beach when disaster struck.
In a video, singer Riefian Fajarsyah said the group’s bassist and road manager were among the dead. Fighting back tears, he said his wife, two other band members and a crew member were still missing.
Crew member Zack revealed in an Instagram post how he struggled to survive by clinging on to part of the collapsed stage. He said: “Underwater I could only pray Jesus Christ help!”At least 29 employees of electricity firm PLN and their relatives, who had attended the concert, died, with another 13 missing.
Band manager Yulia Dian said: “We were shocked because a lot of the people who went there took their families.”
Survivors were treated at nearby clinics. But amid the horror there was some hope as police officers rescued a boy who lay trapped in a car buried beneath fallen trees and rubble for nearly 12 hours.
Yesterday rescue workers struggled to reach the worst affected areas as roads were blocked by the debris.
Officials from the country disaster management agency warned people to stay away from the coastline amid fears another tsunami could strike.
One of the worst hit areas was tourist hotspot Pandeglang in Java, popular for its national park and beautiful beaches.
Officials said more than 160 people died in that area alone.
Norwegian photographer Øystein Lund Andersen, who was photographing the volcano, had to run for his life. He wrote on Facebook: “I had to run, as the wave passed the beach and landed 15-20m inland.” While Azki Kurniawan, 16, said he was in a hotel lobby near Java’s Carita Beach. He said: “I fell down, the water separated me from my bike. I cried in fear: ‘This is a tsunami?’ I was afraid.”