Indonesia tsunami latest: Rescuers search for survivors after volcanic eruption triggers massive tidal wave, killing 281

Rescuers are searching for survivors after a deadly tsunami smashed into the coasts of several islands in Indonesia, killing at least 281 and injuring over 1,000 people.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency confirmed the eruption and collapse of part of Anak Krakatau, a volcano between Java and Sumatra, caused a 2-6m high tsunami that hit the rim of the Sunda Strait late on Saturday.

Locals and tourists have been warned to stay away from coastal areas over fears another volcanic collapse could cause a second tsunami.

Dozens remained missing from the disaster areas along the coastlines of western Java and southern Sumatra islands on Monday, and authorities fear the number could increase once they hear from all stricken areas.

Doctors worked to save the injured as hundreds of military and volunteer rescuers used heavy machinery and their bare hands to dig through debris in the hopes of finding survivors.

The tsunami arrived with almost no warning and destroyed more than 700 buildings, from small shops and houses to villas and hotels.

Nearly 12,000 coastal residents have been forcibly evacuated to higher ground, with a high-tide warning extended to Wednesday.

The Indonesian Medical Association of Banten region said it has sent doctors and medical supplies and equipment and that many of the injured were in need of orthopedic and neurosurgery surgery. It said most patients are domestic tourists who were visiting the beach during the long weekend ahead of Christmas.

Disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Indonesia had no warning system for volcanoes and underwater landslides.

President Joko Widodo visited the area on Monday and said an alert system was needed.

“I’ve instructed the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency to buy a detection device or a system that would provide an early warning so that the residents can be spared,” he told reporters.

Dramatic video posted on social media showed the Indonesian pop band Seventeen performing under a tent on Tanjung Lesung beach, at a concert for employees of a state-owned electricity company.

Dozens of people sat at tables while others swayed to the music near the stage as strobe lights flashed and theatrical smoke was released. A child could also be seen wandering through the crowd.

Seconds later, with the drummer pounding just as the next song was about to begin, the stage suddenly heaved forward and buckled under the force of the water, tossing the band and its equipment into the audience.

The group released a statement saying their bass player, guitarist and road manager were killed, while two other band members and the wife of one of the performers were missing.

On Monday, five more bodies were recovered around the hotel, including a little boy.

“The tide rose to the surface and dragged all the people on site,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, when the current receded, our members were unable to save themselves while some did not find a place to hold on.”

Anak Krakatau, which means child of Krakatau, has been spewing ash and lava for months. Sixty-four hectares (0.64 square km) of the southwest side of the volcano collapsed.

“This caused an underwater landslide and eventually caused the tsunami,” said Dwikorita Karnawati, head of the meteorological agency.

The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade. Earthquakes flattened parts of the tourist island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on Sulawesi island in September.

Many of the affected areas are popular weekend getaways for residents of Jakarta, but foreigners were also visiting the area over the long holiday weekend as well.

Britain, Australia and Canada advised nationals to monitor the situation closely and the United States embassy said it was ready to assist if needed.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and home to 260 million people, lies along the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. Roads and infrastructure are poor in many areas, making access difficult in the best of conditions.

The timing of the tsunami over the Christmas season evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on 26 December, 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

Additional reporting by agencies