In 1883, after weeks of rumbling and spectacular fireworks, the Krakatoa volcano between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra erupted with devastating force.
A series of explosions sent ash tens of kilometres into the sky and resulted in more than 36,000 deaths.
Many victims died as a result of the rock fragments and gases that were blasted out, but others perished because of the terrifying 40-metre tsunamis created by the volcano's collapse.
More than four decades later, in 1927, the Anak Krakatoa (Child of Krakatoa) island volcano emerged above the sea from the remnants of the old volcano.
Last Saturday, history repeated itself on a smaller but still devastating scale when the apparent movement of sediment beneath the surface of the sea triggered tsunamis that have killed hundreds on Java and Sumatra and left 1,000 injured. Concerns remain high that there could be further activity creating follow-up tsunamis.
Although the 1883 eruption and its appalling consequences are well known, when it comes to tsunamis created by volcanoes,“there haven't been many significant examples” in more recent times, says Dr Stephen Hicks, a seismologist at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.
“It's very unusual in terms of living memory,” he said. “You cannot predict when it's going to happen; the warning time will be non-existent or minimal.”
Movements of the seafloor caused by earthquakes are a more common cause of tsunamis, including the 2004 earthquake with an epicentre off northern Sumatra that killed more than 225,000 people in more than a dozen countries.
Volcano-generated tsunamis, while less frequent, are likewise caused by the rapid displacement of large amounts of water.
“In general, movement of magma beneath the volcano surface pushes up some of the volcano flank and causes it to be gravitationally unstable and to collapse,” said Dr Hicks.
“The question is whether it gradually causes a slide over a few days or a catastrophic collapse within tens of seconds. That can cause material to go into the sea – hundreds of tonnes of material within seconds.”
What one volcanologist, Professor Simon Karn of Michigan Technological University, described on Twitter as “fairly rapid recent expansion” this year of the southern part of the Anak Krakatoa island could have made the flank unstable – and liable to collapse.
The shifting of material on the flank may have caused the movement of underwater sediment, which disturbed the surrounding waters.
Prof Karn also said that the remnants of the old volcanic crater may have affected how the tsunami waters dispersed and, in some directions, magnified their effects. A full moon causing high seas is another possible contributory factor.
Dangerous region
The wider Indonesian region is prone to seismic activity, sitting as it does on the Pacific Ocean's Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped area covering tens of thousands of kilometres that contains 452 dormant and active volcanoes, with 127 active volcanoes in Indonesia alone.
The area's instability is caused by the movement of plates of the Earth's crust and upper mantle, a gradual process over millions of years that can, nevertheless, have explosive results.
The way in which volcanoes generate tsunamis is, says Dr Hicks, especially difficult for scientists to get to grips with.
“It's such a complex process; you cannot model or simulate such an event,” he said, contrasting this with the better understanding and prediction possible with tsunamis caused by earthquakes.
“Because we know the exact location of the earthquake, we can work out its depth; is it close to the sea floor; is it likely to cause displacement? If the fault has moved horizontally it won't displace water; if it's vertical it can.”
Another volcano that has caused concerns is the distinctively named Kick 'em Jenny, which sits underwater about 8 kilometres from the Caribbean island of Grenada. Earlier this year ships were warned against getting too close to the volcano after it became more active, although reports indicated that concerns were centred on the risk posed by volcanic gases, rather than the possibility of a tsunami.
In a powerful demonstration of the effects of landslides on water, in mid-2017 the plunging of a huge quantity of rock into a fjord on Greenland's west coast created a 100-metre tsunami, one of the biggest ever recorded. The remnants of the wall of water devastated a fishing village, Nuugaatsiaq, on an island in the fjord, killing several people.
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Read more:
Fears of new tsunami in Indonesia as death toll rises
Devastation of Indonesia's earthquake and tsunami shown in satellite photos
Seven years on, how far has Japan come after its earthquake and tsunami?
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Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
More Iraq election coverage:
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
Results
2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili
3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')
Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')
