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The southern coast of Java was hit by an earthquake-triggered
tsunami Monday afternoon, killing at least 47 people and destroying
houses and buildings along the coast from West Java to Yogyakarta.
A series of earthquakes, the strongest measuring 6.8 on the Richter
scale -- the U.S. Geological Survey put the quake at 7.2 -- triggered a
tsunami that reached as high as four meters along parts of the southern
coast.
The worse-hit area appears to be the idyllic Pangandaran resort town in
Ciamis regency, West Java, where witnesses said hotels, restaurants and
other buildings were destroyed by the waves.
Witnesses said people shouted "tsunami, tsunami" and ran for higher
ground, while others crowded into mosques, apparently learning from
those in Aceh who survived the deadly tsunami in December 2004.
But many others were trapped inside their houses or did not have time
to run, and were killed or injured by the waves. According to
witnesses, two waves smashed into the coast, the first measuring four
meters high and the second two meters.
"The water slowly subsided and then it suddenly rose again and swept
over the coast, devastating houses and boats moored near the shore,"
Lt. Col. Asep, a military officer in Ciamis regency, told El-Shinta
radio station.
According to the office of the Ciamis regency administration, at least
22 people were killed. However, Rudi Bahro, a local councillor, told
Metro TV at least 37 people died in Pangandaran alone.
"The number keeps going up," he said.
The quakes and subsequent tsunami devastated many of the more than 120
hotels and homestays in Pangandaran, and swept away houses and fishing
boats.
Roads were cut off and power was lost to much of the resort area,
according to local media reports.
Many of the survivors are seeking shelter in mosques and other
buildings, while others are camping out wherever they believe it is
safe, including on the streets in the nearby village of Purbahayu.
"We are grateful we were able to reach Purbahayu, which is on higher
ground. We feel safer here than in Pangandaran," one of those displaced
by the disaster, Ayi, told Antara.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the immediate evacuation of
survivors, adding that soldiers had been deployed to help move people
to safety and distribute assistance.
"Local administrations are doing good by evacuating areas at risk from
more quakes. Search and rescue teams, the police and the military are
on the move," the President said at the State Palace in Jakarta.
High waves also affected the coastal areas of Cilacap and Kebumen
regencies in Central Java and Bantul regency in Yogyakarta, sending
thousands of panicked people fleeing from beaches.
In Cilacap, high waves destroyed small restaurants and food stalls
along Logending, Teluk Penyu and Adipala beaches. Thousands of people
jammed roads heading away from the coast.
"Even people who live 10 kilometers from the beach are leaving their
houses because of the fear of a tsunami," said Amrih Katrimah, who was
driving her family from Pacitan to the nearby town of Wangon.
"We are going to Wangon because we are afraid another tsunami will
come," she told The Jakarta Post by mobile phone.
In Kebumen, hundreds of fishing boats were either destroyed or went
missing, according to local authorities, but no deaths were reported.
In Yogyakarta, high waves hit Samas and Parangtritis beaches, which are
popular with local tourists.
"A three-meter-high wave swept away dozens of restaurants along Samas
beach," Rudjito, a fisherman, told the Post.
The head of the Parangtritis search and rescue team, Suroyo, said no
deaths had been reported, but several residents were being treated at a
local hospital for various injuries.
Residents in Parangtritis said the extensive coverage of the Aceh
tsunami alerted those living near the coast to run for higher ground,
thus minimizing the number of victims.
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