Sunda Strait Tsunami Death Toll Reaches 430 People

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Center for Data Information and Public Relations of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Wednesday at 1 p.m. local time, death toll from the tsunami in Sunda Strait reached 430.

"A total of 430 people had died, and the number could continue to climb, as the SAR team had been focusing on its operations in the south, specifically in the sub-district of Sumur. At the moment, the worst impact was felt in Pandeglang," Sutopo noted at a press conference at BNPB in Jakarta.

The agency also noted that until the fourth day after the Sunda Strait tsunami, 1,495 people were injured, 159 people were missing, and 21,991 people were displaced due to the disaster that struck on Saturday night (Dec. 22).

The tsunami that hit at around 9:30 p.m. local time affected five districts, including Pandeglang and Serang in Banten Province as well as South Lampung, Pesawaran, and Tanggamus in Lampung Province. Of the five districts, the worst impact was felt by Pandeglang district, with 290 people dead, 1,143 people injured, 77 people missing, and 17,477 people displaced.

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In South Lampung district, 113 people died, 289 were injured, 14 missing, and 4,200 individuals were displaced.

In Serang, 25 people died, 62 were injured, 68 were missing, and 83 were displaced, while in Pesawaran, there was one fatality, one was injured, and 231 were displaced, whereas one person died in Tanggamus.

Hence, the emergency response period is being applied for 14 days for Pandeglang District, from December 22, 2018, to January 4, 2019, while in South Lampung, the emergency response period is applicable for seven days, on Dec. 23-29.

"There is a possibility of the period being extended, depending on how the situation develops on the field. Recommendations are being gathered from the BMKG and PVMBG, while local governments are in charge of evacuation processes and the BNPB, ministries, Police, and Army will support and strengthen the evacuation measures," he revealed.

The possibility of the period being extended later will be adjusted according to the on-field conditions. Recommendations can be obtained from BMKG and PVMBG, while the regional government will have authority in the evacuation process, while BNPB, ministries and institutions, TNI/Police, and others will strengthen evacuation operations at the tsunami disaster area," he added.

ANTARA