Another Tsunami Hits Java

A powerful earthquake sent a six foot high wall of water crashing into the island of Java. At least 47 people are dead.

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A powerful earthquake sent a 6-foot-high tsunami crashing into beach resorts on Indonesia's Java island Monday, killing at least 47 people and leaving scores missing and sending thousands fleeing to higher ground, officials and witnesses said.

Regional agencies had issued bulletins that the 7.7-magnitude undersea earthquake was strong enough to send a killer wave steaming toward the country worst hit by the 2004 tsunami, but they did not reach the victims because the island has no warning system.

The hardest-hit area appeared to be Pangandaran, an idyllic beach resort long popular with local and foreign tourists, where witnesses said people shouted " Tsunami! Tsunami!" and climbed trees or crowded inland mosques as the wave approached.

Man, Indonesia is having a rough year on the natural disaster front. If any charity information becomes available, I will post it. Might want to check Agam's Gecko regularly for that kind of information, too. He lives over on that side of the world. He doesn't have anything up yet, though.

UPDATE: Times of India coverage.