More Than 222 killed in Indonesia Tsunami

BY: Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Dec. 23 (SEE) -

At least 222 people killed in a tsunami and hundreds were injured too on the Indonesian

islands of Java and Sumatra following an underwater landslide believed caused

by the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano, officials and media said on Sunday.

A resident searches for items among the ruins of a villa after the area was hit by a tsunami, at Carita beach in Padeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, Decemnber 23, 2018 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Asep Fathulrahman/ via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT.

Thousands of residents

were forced to evacuate to higher ground. The disaster agency had raised the death

toll to 222 from 168, with 843 injured and 28 missing.

The aftermath of the tsunami is seen in Banten Province, Indonesia December 23, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. BPBD/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

TV images showed the

seconds when the tsunami hit the beach and residential areas in Pandeglang on

Java island, dragging with it victims, debris, and large chunks of wood and

metal, according to Reuters.

A car is seen among ruins after a tsunami hit Carita beach in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Adi Kurniawan TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Authorities said a

warning siren went off in some areas.

REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION A rescue team member examines damages caused by a tsunami in Lampung province, Indonesia, December 23, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. BASARNAS/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Scientists, including

those from Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics agency, said Sunday that 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 largest eruptions in recorded

history occurred at the Krakatoa volcano more than a century ago. The

scientists also cited tidal waves caused by the full moon.