Complete devastation at Pagaraman, Babi Island, Indonesia
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080923191416im_/http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/icons/small_res/26/26_537.jpg) |
Indonesia A view of the complete devastation of Pagaraman, on Babi Island. Due to strong earth shaking and tsunami
waves, about 700 people were reported killed and more than 100 were
reported missing. This area had the largest death toll of any location
for this event. Eyewitnesses described gruesome scenes including human
remains suspended from tree branches. Babi Island is located about five
kilometers offshore of Flores Island. It has a conical shape, a two
kilometer diameter, and a summit elevation of 351 m. In spite of its
location close to the main island, one sounding in the narrow gap
between Babi and Flores is 241 m deep. The north shore faces the Flores
Sea and is protected by a wide coral reef. The south shore, where the
destroyed villages were located, has a much narrower reef. Near the
middle of the south shore there is a small tidal flat which separates
Kampungbaru (on the west side) from Pagaraman (on the east side). Both
villages were completely destroyed by the tsunamis. The tsunamis washed
away everything from Pagaraman leaving only white beach sand. Photo
Credit: Harry Yeh, University of WashingtonView full resolution image |
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