Choi Won-suk is a photojournalist at The Korea Times. Before joining the newspaper, he also worked as a photojournalist with AFP and St. Joseph News-Press in Missouri. He spent 13 years in the United States, graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Master of Arts in Photography from Ohio University - Athens. Over the past 11 years, Choi covered various news events such as presidential elections, the 2019 North Korea-United States Hanoi Summit and 2022 Qatar World Cup. But above all, Choi believes in local journalism and finds a lot of joy telling life stories of ordinary citizens in small neighborhoods.
Volcano-tsunami causes widespread damage on Indonesia coast
Rescue staff made their way through piles of rubble on Sunday (December 23) morning after hundreds of homes and other buildings were "heavily damaged" in the tsunami which struck along the rim of Indonesia's Sunda Strait.
The tsunami killed at least 62 people and injured hundreds on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra following an underwater landslide caused by the eruption of Anak Krakatau, late on Satuday (December 22). The waves were exacerbated by an abnormally high tide because of the full moon, officials said.
Authorities have warned residents and tourists in coastal areas around the Sunda Strait to stay away from beaches and a high-tide warning remained in place through till Dec. 25 and the disaster mitigation agency said it was still compiling information on the disaster and there was a "possibility that data on the victims and damage will increase".
Coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs, like receding water or an earthquake, before waves of up to two meters washed ashore, according to media. (Reuters)
A soldier examines as he takes care of a local resident who was injured following a tsunami which hit at Tanjung Lesung district in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, December 23, 2018. Reuters
By Choi Won-suk
A plume of ash erupts from Mount Anak Krakatau volcano as seen from Rakata Island in Lampung province, Indonesia, 18 July 2018 (reissued 23 December 2018). A tsunami that hit coastal areas around Indonesia's Sunda Straight has killed at least 43 people and injured over 580 others. Local authorities believe the tsunami may have been caused by volcanic activity related to Anak Krakatau. EPA