Indonesia has been devastated by a second natural disaster as the region’s most volatile volcano erupted, killing more than 30 people, just hours after an earthquake and tsunami claimed a minimum of 300 lives. Hundreds more people are missing in the wake of the earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, which sparked a 10-foot high Tsunami that smashed over several islands and washed hundreds of homes into the sea.

Indonesian authorities were struggling to cope with the aftermath of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with rescuers struggling to reach the Mentawai islands, closest to the epicenter, because of strong winds and rough seas.
Padang Sumatra is on the same stretch of coastline as Aceh, the epicentre for the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004, when 200,000 people in 13 countries were killed. At least 128,000 people died in Indonesia alone. (more…)

Tags: Earthquake, indonesia, Tsunami, Volcano