Was the recent tsunami in Indonesia caused by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake?

[Astronuc]

Magnitude 7.7 - SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA - Tsunamis formed.
http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usqgaf.php

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060717/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A powerful earthquake sent a 6-foot-high tsunami crashing into beach resorts on Indonesia's Java island Monday, killing at least 69 people and leaving scores missing and sending thousands fleeing to higher ground, officials and witnesses said.

Regional agencies had issued bulletins that the 7.7-magnitude undersea earthquake was strong enough to send a killer wave steaming toward the country worst hit by the 2004 tsunami, but they did not reach the victims because the island has no warning system.

The hardest-hit area appeared to be Pangandaran, an idyllic beach resort long popular with local and foreign tourists, where witnesses said people shouted " Tsunami! Tsunami!" and climbed trees or crowded inland mosques as the wave approached.

The earthquake was located in the Sunda Trench and was particularly strong (7.7 Mag) and shallow - hence the tsunami.

North coast of Australia may experience lesser tsunami.

 

[Astronuc]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060719/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_tsunami_51

PANGANDARAN, Indonesia (July 19) -- Rumors of another killer wave sparked mass panic Wednesday in the town hardest hit by the Indonesian tsunami, and amateur video that captured some of the horror of the disaster surfaced. The death toll rose to 531, with more than 270 missing, and a new earthquake shook Indonesia's capital.

More recently - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060719/ts_nm/quake_indonesia_dc_15

PANGANDARAN, Indonesia (Reuters) - An aftershock in Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged region sent hundreds scrambling for high ground on Wednesday as the toll from Monday's disaster climbed to 550.

Rescuers pulled bodies from the debris and aid trickled into worst-hit Pangandaran town while a search continued for about 275 people still missing after the tsunami smashed into a 300-km (185 mile) stretch of coast along southern Java.

Meanwhile - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060719/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A strong earthquake caused tall buildings to sway in the Indonesian capital Wednesday, witnesses said. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 and was centered 24 miles beneath the Sunda straits, said Budi Waluyo, an official at Indonesia's meteorological office said.

Indonesia and much of western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans are at risk for tsunami.

 

[ravenprp]

Based on the information provided, it is likely that the recent tsunami in Indonesia was caused by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Sunda Trench. The earthquake was strong and shallow, which can create larger and more destructive waves. The fact that there was no warning system in place on the island also contributed to the devastation and loss of life. It is also possible that the North coast of Australia may have experienced a lesser tsunami as a result of this earthquake. Overall, it is clear that the earthquake was the main cause of the tsunami, and the lack of warning systems and evacuation procedures also played a role in the tragic outcome. It is important for governments and communities to have proper disaster preparedness measures in place to minimize the impact of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.