Indonesian volcano lost two-thirds of its height

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The Indonesian volcano which caused a tsunami that killed more than 400 people last week lost more than two-thirds of its height, a visual analysis by the Indonesian volcanology agency said Saturday.

The height of the volcano Anak Krakatoa which used to be 338 meters (1,109 feet) high was now just 110 meters.

"Anak Krakatoa is now much shorter, usually you can see the peak from the observatory post, now you can't," Wawan Irawan, a senior official at the agency said.

A week after the tsunami, thousands of Indonesian Muslims attended a mass prayer on Saturday to remember the victims and pray for the safety of their tsunami-prone hometown.

A mother holds her daughter in her arms following the tsunami that was caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatoa volcano. /VCG Photo

Residents of Pandeglang regency, which was hit the hardest by the disaster, gathered in the early morning, some in tears as they chanted their prayers.

"I prayed for the victims and I also pray for the safety of the people who live in the tsunami affected area," Dadan Suryana, a tsunami survivor prayed.

"My prayer is for the victims to get help and be granted patience and I also pray the government will immediately help us to rebuild, to provide clothes and food, or at least to give us moral support," fellow congregant Dian Rosdiana said.

Authorities said at least 426 people were killed and 23 missing in the disaster. Some 7,200 people were injured and nearly 1,300 homes were destroyed after the waves crashed into the coastlines of western Java island and south Sumatra.

More than 40,000 people have been evacuated for fear of another tsunami as Anak Krakatoa continues to rumble.

Indonesia, a vast Southeast Asian archipelago, is one of the most disaster-hit nations on Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.

(With inputs from agencies.)

Source(s): AFP