Footage has emerged from the tsunami that hit Indonesia at about 9:30pm Saturday night, showing local band Seventeen being swept away by a wall of water during a performance.
According to reports, the band was performing for a corporate function on the beach with about 250 people in attendance. At least seven audience members were killed, and more than 80 are missing, according to a company spokesman.
The band released a statement saying that, tragically, their bassist and manager are among the dead. Two other band members and the wife of one of the performers remain missing.
The water washed away the stage which was located very close to the sea. The water rose and dragged away everyone at the location. We have lost loved ones, including our bassist and manager … and others are missing.
NEW: Video shows a tsunami crashing into a venue in Indonesia where the band Seventeen was performing https://t.co/4P9zDCRkKC pic.twitter.com/q9RYOaPTt8
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 23, 2018
The five-metre tsunami has wreaked widespread destruction on the Sunda Strait region, with at least 222 people killed and more than 800 injured.
Driving past debris from the impact zone of the tsunami in #Anyer. Many local houses are damaged. Note also the wierd color of the sea, never seen it like that. #Indonesia #Tsunami pic.twitter.com/c5ryey6ElO
— Øystein L.A. (@oysteinvolcano) December 23, 2018
The tsunami is speculated to have been caused by recent eruptions of the volcano Krakatoa, which triggered undersea landslides. Local residents have been reported saying they did not see or feel any warning signs such as receding water or an earthquake prior to the tsunami.
At the moment, there are no reports of any Australians among the injured or dead.
