Increase in Tsunami Victims in Indonesia: 'Soldiers Search for Bodies'

According to the latest statistics, the tsunami in the Sunda Strait in Indonesia has left at least 373 dead and 1,400 injured. However, Indonesian officials say police and army forces are searching the ruins for bodies, and the death toll may continue to rise. The tsunami on December 23, which occurred after volcanic activity at 'Krakatoa', is the second deadly tsunami in just six months in Indonesia. Sutopo Nugroho, spokesman for the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency, told reporters on Monday, 'It is estimated that some bodies may still be among the rubble taken by the tsunami.' Pantai Gland in Banten Province, President Joko Widodo, who has gone to Sulawesi ahead of the New Year, expressed condolences to the survivors and urged government agencies to speed up their activities. Sulawesi is the same place where more than 2,500 people lost their lives during a severe earthquake and tsunami four months ago. Rescuers say at least 128 people are still considered missing. At the same time, heavy rainfall has exacerbated the problems related to relief efforts. The tsunami on December 23 has destroyed hundreds of homes, hotels, and other structures, and according to government officials, about 12,000 people have been displaced. The Sunda Strait is located near Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and connects the Java Sea in the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean. The tsunami waves have hit the small Banten Province located east of this strait. There is a possibility that the recent tsunami was caused by a subsidence under the sea. The Krakatoa volcano has been active since early last summer. Indonesia has 127 active volcanoes; this archipelago is home to 13% of all active volcanoes in the world. Some analysts say the population density in areas hit by the tsunami could be one of the reasons for the high number of casualties. Simon Boxall, a researcher at the University of Southampton, noted in an interview with Agence France-Presse that when the tsunami occurred, the sea was at spring tide, and the waves likely struck the shore at the highest point of the tide. The Sunda Strait is located in the Southern Hemisphere. The tsunami also occurred in the middle of the night, meaning many were asleep in their homes and were essentially unaware that the waves were sweeping the shore.