A tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake swept across western Indonesia late Monday, killing at least 23 and leaving hundreds homeless, AP reports.
The 167 reported missing so far include eight Australian vacationers.
The 10-foot-tall wave hit the sparsely-populated islands of Pagai and Silabu, reaching some 400 meters inland.
Because the areas are remote, details of the situation are hard to come by. It is probable that more deaths and injuries will be reported as the day progresses.
The undersea earthquake, which hit 13 miles off the coast, registered 7.7 on the Richter scale. The initial quake was followed by ten aftershocks measuring 5 to 6.2.
The same fault involved in Monday night’s earthquake also caused the 9.1 magnitude quake and tsunami in 2004 which killed 230,000 people all around the Indian Ocean.
The 167 reported missing so far include eight Australian vacationers.
The 10-foot-tall wave hit the sparsely-populated islands of Pagai and Silabu, reaching some 400 meters inland.
Because the areas are remote, details of the situation are hard to come by. It is probable that more deaths and injuries will be reported as the day progresses.
The undersea earthquake, which hit 13 miles off the coast, registered 7.7 on the Richter scale. The initial quake was followed by ten aftershocks measuring 5 to 6.2.
The same fault involved in Monday night’s earthquake also caused the 9.1 magnitude quake and tsunami in 2004 which killed 230,000 people all around the Indian Ocean.
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