Java Tsunami (2006)

On July 17, 2006, a tsunami struck Java, killing over 500 people and displacing 50,000. The tsunami was caused by a submarine 7.7-magnitude earthquake, 152 miles south of the Java coast. The depth of the earthquake was just six miles, and the resulting tsunami affected over 186 miles of coastline. The popular beach resort of Pangandaran was badly hit, with reported deaths totalling in excess of 200.

Indonesia is located in an active seismic zone, sitting at the point where three tectonic plates meet. As a result, 60 percent of the Indonesian coastline is identified as at risk from tsunamis. Java, in particular, is tectonically unstable, and although this coastline of Java was unaffected by the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the area is considered active. ...