Jakarta: The tsunami triggered by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia's West Sumatra province has claimed nearly 450 lives, while 96 people are still missing, an official said Sunday.
"As of Saturday, the tsunami has killed about 450 people," said Arief Yuwono, deputy minister for environmental damage control and climate change.
The toll may further increase as search and registration of victims are being conducted on dozens of islands in the area, Xinhua reported.
The ministry of environment has recommended that survivors of the tsunami that swept across Mentawai Islands off West Sumatra be relocated due to the vulnerability of the area to natural disasters.
"We recommend that the local people leave their homes as they are prone to disasters," Antara news agency quoted Arief as saying.
An observation team sent to the area would help locate resettlement areas for the local residents via satellite.
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