Indonesia tsunami disaster: Downpours to decrease as rescue operations ramp up this weekend
The death toll following the devastating tsunami in Indonesia is in the hundreds as recovery efforts turn up more victims.
Showers and thunderstorms may continue to hamper rescue and recovery efforts along the Sunda Strait in Indonesia following the tsunami that has killed more than 400.
The tsunami hit the Sunda Strait on Saturday night, leaving at least 430 people dead and injuring over 1,400. At least 20 people are still missing, according to AP News.
Hundreds of homes were heavily damaged as the wall of water swept away anything in its path. Hotels and boats also sustained severe damage.
Water reportedly swept 65 feet (20 meters) inland.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, there can be additional showers and thunderstorms daily through Friday.
Heavy rain halted convoys delivering heavy machinery and aid to isolated areas in the disaster zone on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Downpours continued to affect search and recovery efforts on Thursday, including delaying a navy vessel's visit to the volcano to determine further risks, according to the Associated Press.
On Friday morning, authorities attempted to confirm reports that the volcano is now much smaller in size, but aerial photos could not be obtained due to cloud cover, according to Gegar Prasetya, co-founder of the Tsunami Research Center Indonesia.
"Only spotty shower and thunderstorm activity will be around this weekend, though the risk of lightning from any thunderstorms can halt rescue and recovery operations as crews will have to seek shelter," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
"Any heavy rain can make dirt roads in remote areas slippery, which may slow down convoys, and cloud cover will continue to hamper observation efforts from above as well," she added.
Indonesia’s disaster management agency said that the tsunami may have been caused by an undersea landslide after the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano, according to the AP. The volcano erupted around 24 minutes prior to the tsunami.
A tsunami that is triggered by a volcano is different from a tsunami that is triggered by an earthquake.
(The Sunda Strait in Indonesia is located just northeast of Krakatau)
The tsunami generated waves that were 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. The tsunami occurred during the full moon, when tide levels were already higher than normal.
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