Hunt for survivors as Indonesian tsunami death toll nears 400
DOZENS of filled body bags were hauled away from buildings flattened by Indonesia’s volcano-triggered tsunami on Monday, as the death toll climbed to 373 and search teams pushed on with the grim hunt for corpses.
— The Malaysian Insight
Indonesia President orders early detection system
Indonesian President Joko Widodo calls for his country to implement early detection systems after a tsunami killed at least 280 people and injured hundreds more.
— CNN
City to foot medical, funeral bills of Jakartan tsunami victims: Anies
The Jakarta governor has announced that the capital will be paying for the medical and funeral costs of Jakartans who were killed in the Sunda Strait tsunami that hit the Anyer coast in Banten province on Saturday evening.
— The Nation (annoying pop-ups)
Rescuers find 52 bodies in tsunami-hit Tanjung Lesung, Banten
A joint search and rescue team has found a total of 52 bodies in Tanjung Lesung tourist resort in Panimbang Sub-district, Pandeglang District, Banten Province, which was hit by tsunami on Saturday (Dec 22).
— Antara News
In Indonesia, splits emerge over efforts to stem plastic tide
As Indonesia struggles with mountains of plastic waste going into landfill and polluting its rivers and oceans, business groups are pushing to overturn restrictions on importing plastic scrap into Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
— Today Online
Indonesian Leader Visits Tsunami Zone, Orders Early-Warning System Upgrade
As he toured a tsunami-devastated area of western Java on Monday, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said he had ordered a government agency to acquire early-warning systems for alerting the public, while authorities revised the toll from Saturday’s disaster to at least 373 people killed.
— Benar News
Singapore Red Cross pledges S$50,000 in aid for Indonesia tsunami victims
The Singapore Red Cross on Monday (Dec 24) said it would extend S$50,000 in humanitarian aid to support those affected by the tsunami in Indonesia.
— Channel NewsAsia
MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless in Tokyo has welcomed 1 million visitors in 5 months. 1 in 3 visitors come from overseas
MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless in Tokyo, a collaborative museum by Mori Building and art collective teamLab, as of November 28, 2018, has welcomed over one million visitors.
— Antara News
Bali Governor Bans Use of Plastic, Styrofoam
Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced the ban of using the plastic bag, styrofoam, and plastic straws, on Monday, December 24. The ban stipulated in Governor Regulation (Pergub) No. 97/2018 is aimed at suppressing the number of plastic waste that is hoped to reach 70 percent within a year.
— Tempo.co
No odd-even policy over Christmas, tweets traffic police
he odd-even license plate policy will not be enforced over the Christmas holidays from Monday, Dec. 24, to Tuesday, Dec. 25, the Jakarta Police tweeted on Christmas Eve morning.
— The Jakarta Post
Construction of Tana Toraja airport completed in 2019
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said construction of a new airport in the district of Tana Toraja in South Sulawesi, would be completed in 2019.
— Antara News
Tsunami; Boat Deployed to Evacuate People Trapped in Island
Transportation Ministry deployed a patrol boat KPLP KNP. 336 to assist the Search and Rescue team to evacuate victims of the tsunami that hit the coast of Sunda Strait on Saturday evening, December 23.
— Tempo.co
More airports built to glue nation together: President
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed hope that the construction of more airports across Indonesia would glue the nation together.
— Antara News
BMKG Ensures Sunda Strait Tsunami Relates to Mount Anak Krakatau
The Head of Earthquake and Tsunami Section at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Rahmat Triyono, has ensured the cause of the tsunami in Sunda Strait which occurred without a prior earthquake late Saturday, December 22.
— Tempo.co
Sunda Strait Tsunami Further Proof of Indonesia’s Poor Disaster Preparedness
The deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck Central Sulawesi at the end of September this year should have been ample reason for the government to take immediate action to improve the country’s early warning system, but the devastating Sunda Strait tsunami over the weekend shows Indonesia still has a long way to go in this regard.
— Jakarta Globe
No warning meant no escape from Indonesia tsunami
An unpredictable chain of events and an inadequate early warning system combined to deadly effect with the tsunami that slammed into coastal areas of Indonesia killing nearly 300 people, disaster officials and experts said on Monday (Dec 24).
— The Straits Times
No tsunami detection system on Sunda Strait has been in place since 2012: official
Indonesia Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says there was no warning prior to the deadly volcano-triggered tsunami on the Sunda Strait on Saturday evening due to an absence of a tsunami warning system in the area — and across Indonesia.
— Coconuts Jakarta (paywall)
Anak Krakatau: Volcanologist explains Indonesia eruption images
It is very likely that a collapse of rocks on Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano caused an undersea rockslide, which in turn generated a tsunami on Saturday that has claimed hundreds of lives.
— BBC
Tsunami; Minister Stresses Importance of Building Code
Jakarta – Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono spoke of the importance of building code in areas prone to disasters. He made the statement in regards to the Sunda Strait tsunami that struck the coastal areas of Banten and Lampung on Saturday night last week.
— Tempo.co
Indonesia denies using white phosphorous in West Papua
Indonesian authorities have angrily denied allegations of a white phosphorus attack on villagers in West Papua during a military operation this month.
— The Guardian
Sunda Strait Tsunami, Ministry Provides Public Kitchens
The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared public kitchens and psychosocial support service (LDP) team at five points in the Banten province for communities affected by the Sunda Strait tsunami. The five points are in Labuan, Carita, Panimbang, Tanjung Lesung, and Cinangka.
— Tempo.co
Indonesian Ambassador Reassures Singaporean Investors on Upcoming Elections
Indonesia’s ambassador to Singapore, Ngurah Swajaya, assured foreign entrepreneurs and investors last week that the upcoming legislative and presidential elections would not affect the government’s commitment to improve the business climate in the archipelago.
— Jakarta Globe
Jakarta Set Schedule to Hold Christmas Celebration in Ancol
“Officials in the city administration and Regional Legislative Council Secretariat, employees in regional-owned enterprises, and all Christians and Catholics will join the celebration this year,” said the head of Jakarta Education, Mental, and Spiritual Bureau, Hendra Hidayat, Monday, December 24
— Tempo.co
Indonesian Muslims protest against China’s treatment of Uighurs
Hundreds of Muslims held a rally outside the Chinese embassy in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Friday to protest against the treatment of members of the mostly Muslim ethnic Uighur minority in China’s far western Xinjiang region.
— Intellasia
Feature photo Syachrul Anto
This week’s morning news photo features a defining moment, event, or situation from 2018 for each country as chosen by our editors.
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Stella-maris Ewudolu
Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.
She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.

Latest posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu (see all)
- Zoonotic crossover fear sees Vietnam ban (almost) all wildlife trade (video) – July 26, 2020
- Job & revenue losses: COVID-19 to hurt Asean airlines the most – July 24, 2020
- Philippines morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020
- Philippines morning news for July 23 – July 23, 2020