More than 5,500 people are spending Christmas away from their homes after being forced to evacuate, following the tsunami which swept the coastlines of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia on Saturday. 

Initially more than 11,000 people had been forced to flee – but many were later able to return to their properties after the threat of a second giant wave subsided.

As of late Christmas Eve, 373 people had been confirmed dead and 1,459 others injured.

Over 120 were still missing, after being engulfed by raging waters in the tsunami triggered by the eruption of a volcano in the Sunda Strait between the two islands.

The erupting volcano is known as the "Child of Krakatoa."

It emerged from the sea in 1927 and is a remnant of the infamous Krakatoa volcano which erupted in 1883 in one of the most violent explosions in recorded history – more than 30,000 people were killed and the ash cloud which spewed into the atmosphere caused global temperatures to drop by more than a degree centigrade.

The damage done by the latest tsunami is also devastating. 

Homes, shops and hotels are reduced to matchwood. Some were swept inshore from beachside locations.

Cars were hurled into trees, boats either damaged or lost.

Metal shipping containers were lifted up and carried inshore by the wave before being left lying at crazy angles.

Rescue workers have been using both machines and their bare hands to claw at the rubble in a desperate bid to find survivors. To date, they have found only bodies.

Power lines were brought down leaving many of the survivors without electricity.

Rescue worker Hendra Manalu said: "I've been here since day one. Everyone is devastated, people are looking for family members, trying to collect lost belongings and see what's left of their homes."

"I've seen people hysterical after finding family members dead."

Some of the worst affected areas were cut off as roads were destroyed. Rescue crews were making their way to people as quickly as possible.

"People are looking for lost relatives but it's unlikely any will be found alive," said police officer Agus Kadarsman. "It is terribly sad."

Many displaced people are being cared for in rescue centers, with donated food and drinks being brought in by emergency services.

The death toll was increased by the fact that many beachfront hotels were full of people enjoying the Christmas holiday.

The tsunami struck at about 9.30 p.m. local time on the evening of December 22 with no warning.

The volcano is in sight of land – and is so close to the beach that after lava spilled into the sea causing the water to boil and race ashore, there was no time for the people to escape.

(Top image: Damage is widespread after a tsunami in Indonesia. /CGTN Photo)