Tanjung Lesung, Indonesia—Picture-postcard Tanjung Lesung was a cornerstone of Indonesia’s bid to supercharge its tourism industry, boasting palm-fringed beaches, a towering volcano in the middle of turquoise waters and a rainforest sanctuary for endangered Javan rhinos.
But the beachside town now lies in ruins, pummeled by a deadly tsunami that has raised fresh questions about disaster preparedness and the future of a multi-billion-dollar push to replicate Bali’s success across the Southeast Asian archipelago.
The shattered community was hosting a pop concert when the waves crashed ashore last month, at night and without warning.
A clutch of other area hotels was also devastated, with beachside cottages flattened and debris—chairs, tables and the band’s audio equipment—scattered everywhere.
Tourism minister Arief Yahya, who ordered that the town be rebuilt in six months, brushed aside concerns sparked by the tsunami—which was triggered by a sudden eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano.
“Disasters can happen anywhere in Indonesia,” he told AFP during a recent visit there.