For almost all ships, the only hope
of surviving a tsunami is to be in
deep water. On May 20, 1883, the
captain of the German warship
Elizabeth reported seeing an 11 km
high cloud of ash and dust rising
above the uninhabited island of
Krakatau. When Krakatau exploded
on August 26-27, 1883 the steamship
Berouw was carried up the
Koeripan River valley over a
mile inland, thirty feet above sea
level, killing all 28 of its crew.
of surviving a tsunami is to be in
deep water. On May 20, 1883, the
captain of the German warship
Elizabeth reported seeing an 11 km
high cloud of ash and dust rising
above the uninhabited island of
Krakatau. When Krakatau exploded
on August 26-27, 1883 the steamship
Berouw was carried up the
Koeripan River valley over a
mile inland, thirty feet above sea
level, killing all 28 of its crew.
The crew and passengers of the steamship Governor-General Loudon survived only because Captain Johan
Lindemann, in a impressive bit of seamanship, powered right up the face of the incoming tsunami.
Lindemann, in a impressive bit of seamanship, powered right up the face of the incoming tsunami.