Jakarta: A two-metre high tsunami crashed into beach resorts and fishing villages along Indonesia's Java island today, killing at least 38 people, leaving many missing and sending thousands fleeing to higher ground in terror, witnesses and officials said. Regional agencies issued warnings that a 7.1-undersea quake was strong enough to send a killer wave streaming towards the country worst hit by the 2004 tsunami, but victims did not hear of them in time. The worst hit area appeared to be around Pangandaran, an idyllic beach resort long popular with local and foreign tourists, where people shouted "tsunami, tsunami!" and climbed trees or crowded in mosques as the waves approached, witnesses said. "All the houses are destroyed along the beach," a woman who identified herself only as Teti told el-Shinta Radio station. "Small hotels are completely destroyed and at least one restaurant was washed away." The extent of damage from today's wave further up the coast was not immediately clear, with some roads blocked and power and phone lines cut in some areas. Rudi Bahro, a local lawmaker, told Metro TV at least 37 people were killed at Pangandaran and "the number is still going up". At least one other person died in Puring Bay, some 100 kilometres to the east, said distirct chief Rustriningsih, adding that another 19 were missing.
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