Sunda Strait Tsunami

I was deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries associated with the recent (December 22) tsunami in the Sunda Strait resulting from the eruption and collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano.

2018 Sunda Strait tsunami (Wikipedia)

On 22 December 2018, a tsunami that followed an eruption and collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait struck coastal regions of Banten Province (Java) and Lampung Province (Sumatra), Indonesia. At least 429 people were killed and 1,459 were injured. The tsunami was caused by an undersea landslide that followed an eruption of Anak Krakatau, the "Child of Krakatoa". On December 23 it was found that much of the Island of Anak Krakatau had collapsed into the sea.

Among the victims were Aa Jimmy, an Indonesian actor and comedian, and several members of the Indonesian band Seventeen: Bassist M. Awal "Bani" Purbani, guitarist Herman Sikumbang, road manager Oki Wijaya, and crewmember Ujang. After a few hours, drummer Windu Andi Darmawan and Dylan Sahara were reported to have been found dead. A video circulated online showing the band's stage being struck by the tsunami in the middle of their show at Tanjung Lesung, causing it to collapse and the audience to flee.

My thoughts and prayers go to all of the victims and their families, including Riefian Fajarsyah who is the sole survivor of Seventeen:

Sole survivor of Indonesian pop group hit by tsunami buries wife

Aftermath of the tsunami on the exact location where the concert was held. Image Source:

This tragedy was predicted back in 2012 by Giachetti et al. but sadly little had been done to prepare for this scenario:

T. Giachetti, R. Paris, K. Kelfoun and B. Ontowirjo. Tsunami hazard related to a flank collapse of Anak Krakatau Volcano, Sunda Strait, Indonesia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 361, 79-90, 3 January 2012, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP361.7

Abstract: Numerical modelling of a rapid, partial destabilization of Anak Krakatau Volcano (Indonesia) was performed in order to investigate the tsunami triggered by this event. Anak Krakatau, which is largely built on the steep NE wall of the 1883 Krakatau eruption caldera, is active on its SW side (towards the 1883 caldera), which makes the edifice quite unstable. A hypothetical 0.280 km³ flank collapse directed southwestwards would trigger an initial wave 43 m in height that would reach the islands of Sertung, Panjang and Rakata in less than 1 min, with amplitudes from 15 to 30 m. These waves would be potentially dangerous for the many small tourist boats circulating in, and around, the Krakatau Archipelago. The waves would then propagate in a radial manner from the impact region and across the Sunda Strait, at an average speed of 80–110 km h^-1. The tsunami would reach the cities located on the western coast of Java (e.g. Merak, Anyer and Carita.) 35–45 min after the onset of collapse, with a maximum amplitude from 1.5 (Merak and Panimbang) to 3.4 m (Labuhan). As many industrial and tourist infrastructures are located close to the sea and at altitudes of less than 10 m, these waves present a non-negligible risk. Owing to numerous reflections inside the Krakatau Archipelago, the waves would even affect Bandar Lampung (Sumatra, c. 900 000 inhabitants) after more than 1 h, with a maximum amplitude of 0.3 m. The waves produced would be far smaller than those occurring during the 1883 Krakatau eruption (c. 15 m) and a rapid detection of the collapse by the volcano observatory, together with an efficient alert system on the coast, would possibly prevent this hypothetical event from being deadly.

At Least 429 Dead In Indonesian Tsunami, As Residents Warned To Remain Vigilant

A spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency says the country's tsunami warning system has been broken since 2012 because of a lack of funds, passing ships striking the warning buoys, and vandalism.

see also:

Krakatoa volcano (Sunda Strait, Indonesia): scientists had explained and warned about the tsunami risk 6 years earlier - prediction came true. Tuesday Dec 25, 2018 11:58 AM