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Date Posted: 02:15:36 04/02/05 Sat
Author: Lance Miller
Subject: ASU, BAWA, & Others hit hard - read on...

http://surfingthemag.com/pulse/lawrence_quake_033105/index.html

More here:

SURFERS WEATHER SUMATRAN EARTHQUAKE
News from local and traveling surfers has begun to trickle in Days after an 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck islands off Northern Sumatra, news from local and traveling surfers has begun to trickle in.
The epicenter of the earthquake was only 75 miles north of Nias Island, effecting a concentrated region of world-class surf that includes islands such as the Hinako, Banyaks, Nias, and Simeulue.

The earthquake caused extensive damage to buildings, led to a significant loss of life, and traumatized a local population still reeling from the December 26th quake and tsunami.

Jordan Heuer of Saraina Koat Mentawai received news from Nias via text messages from Mike Eu, a Singapore Airlines pilot and surfer. Eu experienced the quake first-hand from his house overlooking Lagundri Bay's perfect right. "My house shook for two minutes. I ran for my life.
It's OK, only some cracks on the walls. It's like a war zone here...like in the movies. Dead bodies all over, roads parted, bridges broken, houses down."

Meanwhile, Henry Morales from Wavehunters Travel received a report from Mark Flindt on the KM Nauli, a surf charter boat stationed off the Hinako Islands. The Hinako are a small chain of islands west of Nias that attract surfers to a heaving left called Asu and a giant bowly right, Bawa (the one Tom Curren tore apart on his 5'7" fish in the mid 90s). Flindt reported massive reef uplifting in the region, with the end bowl at Asu being raised 3 meters. The "nuke zone" as the lethal, barreling end bowl is called, is currently dry and unsurfable. According to Morales, Flindt also saw "new bombies sticking up everywhere."

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that a land-based Hinako camp run by Aussie Mark Grant was partly destroyed in the quake. No guests were present. Grant, currently in Bali, learned of the situation by speaking to acquaintances at the camp by satellite phone. He told The Herald that "we usually only have tides of about three feet, but it's gone out much further than usual and hasn't come back. There are reefs exposed that we haven't seen before."

In the Mentawais, both surfers and surfspots seem to have escaped the earthquake unscathed. As Bruce Jaffe of the US Geological Survey explains, the Mentawais were far from the "zone of uplift," leaving them with little damage. Sean Murphy of Waterways Travel contacted his Mentawais surf charters by satellite phone after hearing of the quake. A relieved Murphy woke up crew on each boat, only to hear they had slept through the quake. As of Wednesday, all Mentawais boats have checked in, reporting safe passengers and no noticeable effects on the perfect reefs.

Farther away, in the Maldives, the Sumatran quake raised concern of another tsunami. Henry Morales heard from Lohifushi Resort surf guide Dan Capel by email. Capel was "warming up for disco" when he was told of the earthquake and a possible tsunami. Once informed, resort guests headed to the bar for a few beers, as the bar is highest point on the island. Capel reported that some guests "started freakin' and panicking a bit... a few guys grabbed their boards ready to bail, but most were pretty relaxed, one Italian asked if I could get him a life jacket while he waited at the bar." Fortunately, no tsunami reached the Maldives.

Back in Sumatra, multiple surf-related aid projects are racing towards Nias and the surrounding islands. SurfAid International has deployed 3 boats and a helicopter with medical personnel. They will address the worst hit areas of Gunung Sitoli and Teluk Dalam, the largest towns on Nias.

The Sumatra Surfzone Relief Organization will depart Padang ASAP on the Mikumba, to concentrate on the smaller islands that might not otherwise receive aid.

Related Links:

How you can help - http://www.surfline.com/surfnews/2005_01_01_nias_fund.cfm

SurfAid International - http://www.surfaidinternational.org/

SSRO - http://surfzonerelief.org/

--Lewis Samuels

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