MORE than 220 people have been killed during a busy holiday weekend in Indonesia.
A tsunami, thought to be triggered by a volcanic eruption, swept away hotels, hundreds of houses and a group of people attending a beach concert.
The Disaster Management Agency said 222 died, more than 800 were injured and dozens more were missing after the wave hit around the Sunda Strait just before 9.30pm on Saturday.
However, it warned that the toll could rise further because some areas had not yet been reached.
Scientists including a team from Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the tsunami could have been caused by undersea landslides or those occurring above sea level on the Anak Krakatau volcano’s steep outside slope following the eruption.
The volcano’s name translates to “Child of Krakatoa”, a volcanic island formed over years after one of the biggest eruptions in recorded history occurred at the Krakatoa volcano more than a century ago.
Scientists also cited tidal waves caused by the full moon.
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Dramatic video posted on social media showed an Indonesian pop band named Seventeen performing under a tent on a popular beach at a concert for employees of a state-owned electricity company.
Dozens of people sat at tables covered in white cloths while others bobbed to the music near the stage as bright strobe lights flashed and theatrical smoke was released.
A child could also be seen wandering through the crowd.
Seconds later, with the drummer pounding as the next song was about to begin, the stage heaved forward and buckled under the force of the water, throwing the band and their equipment into the audience.
In a statement the group said their bass player, guitarist and road manager were found dead, while two other band members and the wife of one of the performers remained missing.
“The tide rose to the surface and dragged all the people on site,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, when the current receded our members are unable to save themselves while some did not find a place to hold on.”
The 305-metre-high Anak Krakatau volcano lies in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands, linking the Indian Ocean and Java Sea.
It erupted about 24 minutes before the tsunami, according to the geophysics agency.
The worst-affected area was the Pandeglang region of Java’s Banten province, which encompasses Ujung Kulon National Park and popular beaches, said the disaster agency.
It said 222 deaths had been confirmed and at least 843 people were injured. Rescue workers were still trying to access other affected areas.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo expressed his sympathy and ordered government agencies to respond quickly to the disaster.
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“My deep condolences to the victims in Banten and Lampung provinces,” he said. “Hopefully, those who are left have patience.”
In the city of Bandar Lampung on Sumatra, hundreds of residents took refuge at the governor’s office.
Azki Kurniawan, 16, said he was undergoing vocational training with a group of 30 other students at Patra Comfort Hotel when people suddenly burst into the lobby yelling “Sea water rising!”.
He said he was confused because he did not feel an earthquake, but ran to the parking lot to try to reach his motorbike.
By the time he got there, it was already flooded. “Suddenly a one-metre wave hit me,” he said. “I fell down, the water separated me from my bike.
“I was thrown into the fence of a building about 30 metres from the beach and held onto the fence as strong as I could, trying to resist the water, which feels like it would drag me back into the sea.”
He added: “I cried in fear ... This is a tsunami?
“I was afraid I would die.”
Alistair Dutton, director of the Scottish aid charity Sciaf, said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have died or lost loved ones.
“We are already working with Caritas Indonesia to help survivors of the devastating tsunami which hit Palu on Sulawesi island in September.
“We are monitoring the current situation and will be in contact with Caritas to establish what further emergency support we can provide to the people affected by this latest disaster.”
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