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The island had been a popular tourist destination before the Dec. 9 eruption. But many people now question why tourists were allowed to visit, especially after experts monitoring seismic activity raised the volcano's alert level two weeks before the eruption. The names of those charged are being kept secret for now by authorities under New Zealand legal rules. But two agencies which rely on public funding have disclosed they are among those charged: GNS Science and the National Emergency Management Agency. Some of the others charged likely include private companies which took tourists to the island. The individuals charged were...

An Indonesian pop band lost its bass player and road manager after a tsunami struck the beach where the band was performing Saturday night, according to reports. In a news release, the band named Seventeen confirmed the deaths of bassist M. Awal Purbani, also known as Bani, and road manager Oki Wijaya, the Jakarta Post reported. Four others associated with the band - guitarist Herman Sikumbang, drummer Andi Windu Darmawan, crew member Ujang, and Dylan Sahara, wife of vocalist Riefian Fajarsyah -- remained missing, according to the paper.

CARITA BEACH, Indonesia (AP) — The deadly tsunami struck in the dark, without warning. At least 222 people were killed as waves smashed into houses, hotels and other beachside buildings Saturday night along Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, in a disaster that followed an eruption and possible landslide on Anak Krakatau, one of the world’s most infamous volcanic islands. More than 800 others were injured and dozens were reported missing after the tsunami hit coastal areas along western Java and southern Sumatra islands at 9:27 p.m. Saturday amid a Christmas holiday weekend, the Disaster Management Agency said. The death toll could increase...

Far-reaching storm to deliver disruptive rain, mountain snow across western US into Christmas https://www.accuweather.com/en/weathe... 18 inches of snow fell Friday in WNC? Precipitation record 'almost certain' to fall? https://www.citizen-times.com/story/n... 'Confidence increasing' that snowstorm will slam Minnesota after next week https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-... Severe cold, record rain, December tornadoes: 2018 closes out a year of unpredictable weather https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/w... Sierra Nevada Snowpack On Track To Collapse 79%, New Study Warns https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-1... USDA Snowpack Map https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/Sier... GFS Total Snowfall Model https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analy... Worldwide Volcano News and Updates: https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volc... Gunung Krakatau Meletus 423 Kali https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rV-E...

Hundreds of people have been killed and injured after a tsunami struck tourist beaches and coastal areas around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on Saturday night. Officials said at least 222 people were dead and 843 injured after a volcanic eruption thought to have been caused by an underwater landslide sent waves surging towards the coastlines of Java and Sumatra islands. Indonesia’s disaster management agency said 28 people were still missing and warned the death toll could rise further as not all affected areas had been reached. The worst affected area was the Pandeglang region of Banten province in Java, which encompasses...

At least 20 people have been killed and 165 injured after a tsunami hit the coast around Indonesia's Sunda Strait, government officials say. The country's disaster management agency says two people are missing, and dozens of buildings were damaged. It says the possible cause of the tsunami were undersea landslides after the Krakatoa volcano erupted. The Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean. The deaths were reported in the Pandeglang, South Lampung and Serang regions. Officials warn that the death toll is likely to rise further. The disaster management agency...

SUMATRA, Indonesia –Several earthquakes have struck near south Sumatra of the 5.0 and 5.1 magnitude range today- making a tense situation on the volcanically-dotted archipelago potentially even more volatile. The Anak Krakatau volcano is showing signs of increased seismic activity. Authorities fear the volcano is building towards an eruption that could dwarf the one which occurred in 2007. Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disasters Mitigation Center reported the numbers of seismic tremors now registering from the volcano have exceeded 5,000 a day. There are also reports of a gaseous mist which has seeped from the volcano and have enshrouded it in...