Tsunami in Indonesia strikes again

Picture credit: Indonesian Agency for Disaster Prevention and Response: BNPB

Last night, a strong tsunami hit the islands of Java and Sumatra, following the explosion of the Krakatau volcano in Sunda Strait. As I am writing this, 168 people were reported killed, and hundreds are injured. There is also a substantial destruction in private and public infrastructure.

After the earthquakes in Lombok and Sulawesi, this is the 3rd serious seismic disaster in Indonesia in 2018. Tsunamis, volcano eruptions and earthquakes are common in the Southeast Asian country, but this year is particularly bad.

I am likely to be deployed to respond to this disaster, and getting ready to travel there tomorrow. It appears that this Christmas will be in the field, trying understanding the needs of the affected people and tailor the support that we can deliver from my organisation.