THE SUNDA DISASTER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1367, 11 October 1883, Page 4

THE SUNDA DISASTER.

The latest news from Balaria states that over an extent of 80 miles of country complete darkness was cast in consequence of the recent eruptions in the Straits of Sunda, White ashes fell all over the city and at Cheriboh. During the night all gaslights were extinguished, and in the day time time lamps had to be lit, The sea rose to such a height in the Straits of Sunda that it totally swept over Anjer Tyerigin and Teloh Beton. It flooded all rivers, which, rushing down again, carried away bridges, and destroyed several Malay villages. All boats on the coast were completely destroyed or carried far inland, All lighthouses in the Straits have diappeared ; and the Island of Karatoa has been rent into pieces by the strength of the volcanic action, and has sunk into the sea. Charts of the Straits are no longer trustworthy, as the channel has entirely changed. Between the islands of Karatoa and Cibessie, sixteen volcanoes have appeared. Island Soengarpan has been split into five islands, Bantam has been made an ashy desert, cattle are dying for want of food, and a faminine appears to be imminent. Residents are in despair. The volcanic mountain, Rawoon, distant 20 miles from Banjorngie, has also been in active eruption, emitting huge volumes of smoke. At Anjer, on Sunday evening, strong detonations were heard and felt. The sea rose and fell three feet at intervals of from ten to fifteen minutes. Six distinct shocks of earthquake were felt during the night, and early on the following morning a high column of water struck the land with a roaring noise. An hour later there waa another of the same sort, and still higher, causing great destruction of life and property.

During the night of the 27th August strong detonations from Krakatoa were heard at Soerakrata, and the flashes of volcanic fires were visible at Batavia. At noon Serang was in total darkness, and stones were falling all over thejtown. Numerous villages near Anjer were washed away. It was almost dark at Batavia, and telegraphic communication with Anjer was interrupted owing to the telegraph line being down. The river overflowed owing to the rush of the sea inland. All shops and offices w’ere closed, and business suspended. The Telegraph Inspector at Java reports that while trying the lines between Serang and Anjer, he saw a high column of sea approaching with a roaring noise. He fled inland, but believed Anjer destroyed. At Batavia at noon on the 28th August, everything was quiet, the sky being clear and the temperature down ten degrees and quite chilly towards nightfall. The bamboo houses along the beach were washed away by a tidal wave, which was not very high. The fish in the sea were very dizzy, and were caught with ease by the natives. The town was covered with a thin layer of ashes, giving roads a quaint, bright look. During darkness an ashy rain was distinctly heard falling. The mountain of liawoon was in active eruption, emitting columns of smoke. All lighthouses on the coast in the Straits have been totally destroyed. Where Mount Krakata stood the sea now plays.