Shocking footage shows the terrifying moment a huge tsunami hit the Indonesian town of Palu earlier this week.
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake caused the tsunami to strike the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday (September 28), with the waves reaching six metres high in some areas.
Hundreds of fatalities were caused by the shocking events, with the death toll on the island having risen to 832 at the time of writing.
It is the most devastating earthquake to have hit Indonesia since 2004.
Watch the frightening moment the tsunami hit here:
The video was taken in Palu, where 821 of the deaths occurred.
People could be heard shouting as they ran away from the open sides of the building while the water came rushing towards the town, taking out cars, trees and buildings.
The city has been destroyed, and now has no electricity. Drinking water is in short supply, and fuel is running low.
Damage to hospitals means those injured are being treated in tents, while many survivors have been sleeping outside after warnings not to return to their homes as a precaution, the BBC report.
Sending my prayers to Indonesia as strong earthquake followed by tsunami hit its https://t.co/BYtSX6gGOw least 384 people died& more to follow.I wish recovery at the earliest hours to those injured & pray for eterneal peace those who deceased! #IndonesiaEarthQuake pic.twitter.com/jKwCgftyJe— Rinku Sheoran (@Rinku_Sheoran_) September 29, 2018
A video shared on Twitter showed one person gesturing desperately at the waves to try and warn people of their significance.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the national disaster mitigation agency, shared the video, writing (translated):
Still many people on the beach when the tsunami hit before crashing Beach City Hammer (28/9/2018). No siren goes off. Many do not know community threats so still do activities on the beach. Eventually many of the victims of the tsunami [sic]
Masih banyak masyarakat yang berada di pantai saat tsunami sebelum menerjang Pantai Kota Palu (28/9/2018). Tidak ada sirine berbunyi. Masyarakat banyak yang tidak tahu ancamannya sehingga masih melakukan aktivitas di pantai. Akhirnya banyak korban akibat tsunami. #palutsunami pic.twitter.com/hwxw29UlBR— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 29, 2018
There are believed to be 50 people trapped under the ruins of the Roa Roa hotel in Palu, some of whom can be heard shouting for help under the rubble.
Nugroho shared a video of the ongoing rescue mission:
Evakuasi korban tertimbun gempa di Hotel Roa-Roa Kota Pqluterus dilakukan Tim SAR Gabungan dikoordinir Basarnas. Diperkiran terdapat 50 orang di bawah reruntuhan bangunan. Alat berat diperlukan untuk evakuasi. pic.twitter.com/LGWwp3OEhE— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 30, 2018
We are trying our best. Time is so important here to save people. Heavy equipment is on the way.Dwi Haris spoke to AP about his version of the devastating events, explaining he was in town for a wedding with his family.
Nearly 400 people died and scores of people were injured in #Palu city in Sulawesi Island of #Indonesia that hit by a major earthquake and tsunami yesterday. There are difficulties in reaching #Donggala city, so there is no reliable information for the casualities. pic.twitter.com/i2yO71qnjE— Humanitarian Relief (@IHHen) September 29, 2018
There was no time to save ourselves. I was squeezed into the ruins of the wall, I think. I heard my wife cry for help, but then silence. I don’t know what happened to her and my child. I hope they are safe.Haris suffered a broken back and shoulder, and was treated outside Palu’s Army Hospital.
Our thoughts are with all those who are suffering from the devastating events.
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