Quake damages popular surf spot
The massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra last month pulverized resorts and infrastructure that support the surf-based economy of Indonesia’s Nias Island.
The magnitude 8.7 temblor caused heavy damage in Teluk Dalam, a town near Nias’ famous right-breaking waves on Lagundri Bay.
Michelle Cahill of SurfAid International, a nonprofit aid group, recommends against going there now.
Yet surfing charter vessels continue to operate offshore of Indonesia, which was wracked in December by a tsunami. The boats brim with surfers hoping for less competition for waves.
“I haven’t had one cancellation yet,” says Anthony Marcotti, whose San Clemente-based company runs charter vessels in the nearby Mentawai Islands. “This is going to seriously affect the resorts down there, but the charter boats will stay. Surfers will enter guerrilla warfare zones to catch waves.”
At least 647 people, including 616 on Nias, have been confirmed killed in the March 28 quake, says national police spokesman Col. Zainuri Lubis.
-- Emmett Berg
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