Death toll from Indonesia tsunami climbs to 373

Death toll from tsunami in areas surrounding the Sunda Strait of Indonesia rose to at least 373 people, according to Indonesian authorities on December 24.
Death toll from Indonesia tsunami climbs to 373 ảnh 1Ruins in Carita, Banten province of Indonesia following the tsunami on December 22 (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Death toll from tsunami in areas surrounding theSunda Strait of Indonesia rose to at least 373 people, according to Indonesianauthorities on December 24.

Disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that1,459 people were reported as injured in Java and Sumatra islands while 128others were missing in the disaster.

Meanwhile, experts warned that another tsunami could strike Indonesia.

The tsunami, which came after a volcaniceruption, hit beaches in South Sumatra and the western tip of Java at about9.30 pm local time on December 22. It caused severe impacts to areassurrounding the Sunda Strait, including beaches in Pangegland, Serang and SouthLampung. 

Authorities say the tsunami may have beentriggered by an abnormal tidal surge due to a new moon and an underwaterlandslide following the eruption of Anak Krakatoa, which forms a small islandin the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

Indonesia, oneof the most disaster-prone nations on earth, straddles the so-called Pacific"Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and a large portion ofthe world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Anak Krakatau is one of127 active volcanoes which run the length of the archipelago.

Most recently, a quake and tsunami killedthousands of people in the city of Palu on Sulawesi island in September.

In 2004, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia killed220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 inIndonesia.-VNA
VNA

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.