Post-disaster rapid assessment of Sunda Strait tsunami on 24th–25th December 2018 in the Regencies of Serang and Pandeglang, Province of Banten, Indonesia

Post-disaster rapid assessment of the Sunda Strait Tsunami was conducted on 24th–25th December 2018 in five selected sample sites. These study sites were located on the western coast of the Regencies of Serang and Pandeglang, and represented a range of damages, losses, and needs. The aims of this assessment are: (1) measuring the tsunami wave dimensions, (2) observing the landscape conditions, and (3) investigating the affected land cover. The physical damages were investigated based on the tsunami wave dimension analysis, by using a direct-field measurement, drone-based survey, and local interviews. The results show that (1) the greatest trace of tsunami dimensions in Tanjung Jaya Village, Panimbang District, Pandeglang Regency was subjected to the highest fatality, (2) the open landscape aggravated the tsunami impact, compared to the landscape with perennial trees or hilly topography, and (3) the severely destructed buildings were usually on the nearest coastline, where Sambolo residential area in Sukarame Village had the worst impact. These conditions were exacerbated by: (1) the absence of coastal retaining structures as physical defense, and (2) built-on facilities on reclaimed land that violated government regulation. Additionally, this paper proposes several recommendations to support the next phase of mitigation strategies and sustainable planning.