In Pics: Indonesia Tsunami Leaves a Trail of Death, Destruction

Indonesia sits on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

Indonesian rescuers search for the bodies of tsunami victims in Carita, Indonesia, on Sunday, 23 December. 

(Photo: AP)

At least 222 people were killed and hundreds injured by the deadly Indonesian tsunami, triggered by an underwater landslide after the eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano.

The tsunami appears to have been triggered by a combination of underwater landslides caused by the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in the Sunda Strait that lies between the islands of Java and Sumatra. There was no warning before the waves struck the Pandeglang district, officials from Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said.

Indonesia is prone to tsunamis because it lies on the Ring of Fire – the line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.

On 26 December 2004, a series of huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean killed about 2,28,000 people in 14 countries, mostly in Indonesia. However, tsunamis caused by volcanic activity like this are less frequent.

In September, more than 2,000 people died when a powerful earthquake struck just off the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu.

The powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck the Indonesian island this Saturday left heart-wrenching scenes of destruction and human suffering.

Debris littered a property badly damaged by a tsunami in Indonesia’s Carita on Sunday. (Photo: AP)

A man reacts after identifying his relative among the bodies of tsunami victims in Carita, Indonesia.(Photo: AP)

Residents inspect a house damaged by a tsunami, in Carita, Indonesia. (Photo: AP)

A rescuer is seen through a damaged house as he takes part in a search operation of tsunami victims.(Photo: AP)

People search for relatives among the bodies of tsunami victims, in Carita, Indonesia.(Photo: AP)

People search for relatives among the bodies of tsunami victims.(Photo: AP)

Cars damaged by a tsunami sit in Carita, Indonesia.(Photo: AP)

Wrapped bodies of tsunami victims are laid at a hospital.(Photo: AP)

A woman reacts after identifying a relative among the bodies of tsunami victims in Carita, Indonesia,(Photo: AP)