Surfing at Nias (not on a Tsunami)
Giant Earthquake causes huge Tsunamis:
Earthquake/Tsunamis believed to have obliterated Nias.
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 December 2004: - - The world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years struck deep under the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra on Sunday, triggering tidal waves up to 30 feet high that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in six countries across southern Asia. So far 10,000 people are confirmed killed in the devastation, and the death toll is expected to rise.
Tourists, fishermen, homes and cars were swept away by walls of water that rolled across the Bay of Bengal, unleashed by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake. The tsunami waves barreled nearly 3,000 miles across the ocean to Africa, where at least nine people were killed in Somalia, witnesses said. At least 4,185 were killed in Indonesia, the country's health ministry said.
Early reports indicate the island of Nias, located very close to the epicenter of the earthquake, received severe damage, and was described as being the "Ground Zero" of this disaster. Reports state hotels, and houses have completely disappeared as the tsunamis swept across the island. Untold numbers of people are believed dead or disappeared. It is reasonable therefore to consider some surfers will be amongst the dead and injured.
Devastation at Patong Beach 1n Phuket, Thailand
The Maldives also have been swept by the Tsunamis, with Male under 4 feet of water, and other islands having been completely submerged by the wave as it passed over the islands. Numbers of the dead and disappeared are not known as yet. Again it may be that surfers will be amongst the dead, disappeared, and injured.
In Sri Lanka, 1,000 miles west of the epicenter, more than 3,000 people were killed, the country's top police official said; that number, however, does not include the 1,500 deaths reported by rebels who control part of the country.
Elsewhere, about 2,300 were reported dead along the southern coasts of India, at least 289 in Thailand, 42 in Malaysia and two in Bangladesh.
"All the planet is vibrating" from the quake, said Enzo Boschi, the head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute. Speaking on SKY TG24 TV, Boschi said the quake even disturbed the Earth's rotation.
The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 8.9. Geophysicist Julie Martinez said it was the world's fifth-largest since 1900 and the largest since a 9.2 temblor hit Prince William Sound Alaska in 1964.
The epicenter was located 155 miles south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province on Sumatra, and six miles under the seabed of theIndian Ocean. There were at least a half-dozen powerful aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from almost 6 and 7.3.
On Sumatra, the quake destroyed dozens of buildings — but as elsewhere, it was the wall of water that followed that caused the most deaths and devastation.
The above report was filed at approximately 18h30 GMT 26 December 2004, and it should be kept in mind detailed information is still being gathered. This is an enormous disaster of biblical proportions, and it may well be several days before accurate information is avialbale. Communications have suffered a severe blow, so again it may be some time before news of any surfers comes to hand.
Finally for those who do not already know, a tsunami is not a wave that can be surfed, either in the open ocean, or near the shore.
More information as it relates to surfers, will be posted as it comes to hand.
Surfersvillage extends their condolences to the relatives, friends, and loved ones. of all those dead, disappeared, or injured.
More Australian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts
Source: Yahoo News
Compiled by: O'Boards Surfing News
Environment Disasters - Surfersvillage
- - News and Announcements presented by - -
Getting Stoked -o- Cream Café – Robbie Page -o- Contests Register
- Surf Europe Mag -o- PitPilot Mag -o- Fins Mag -
- CNS Portugal -o- Worldwide Surforecasts -o- Euro Camper Rentals -
