Swellnet Dispatch Pumping at P-Pass Pounded at Papua
In: Swellnet Dispatch Wed 25th Feb '09
Tags: papua new guinea , kelly slater , deep six , P-Pass , Caroline Islands , Pohnpei
Last week huge waves caused extensive damage along the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The waves, the largest for many years, were created by a weather sytem in the north-western Pacific. The same system provided massive surf for the O'Neill World Cup Of Surfing at Sunset Beach.
The Caroline Islands, 1500 kms north-east of Papua New Guinea, also broke at size with a stellar crew making a late dash to catch the swell. Amongst them Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Ian Walsh and Makua Rothman. P-Pass was 10-12 feet and Slater rode a 5'3” version of the 5'11” 'Deep Six' he rode to victory in the Pipeline Masters.
Further south at Papua New Guinea the waves were so large that many locals mistook them for tsunami and moved to higher ground. Papua New Guinea has a history of tsunami; in 1998 a 7.0 magintitude earthquake caused an underwater landslide that created a tsunami 10m high at Aitape on the north-western coast. 2200 people were killed in that event.
The waves however weren't tsunami but wind generated. Wave buoys reported the swell at 12ft at 15 second period. Andy Abel, president of the Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea, said the spots at Kavieng that handled the size were a solid eight feet waves during the swell. Abel, who has been surfing Papua New Guinea for 21 years, also said that this was the largest swell for five years.
While the large swell delighted the surfers in the region it devastated many of Papua New Guinea's offshore islands and low-lying regions of the northern coast.
The damage was caused when the swell coincided with the largest tidal phase of the year. The combination of big swell and high tide flooded many villages along the northern coast and up to 50 000 people have had to be evacuated.
Three hotels near Wewak had their foundations exposed and were inundated by seawater. At a beach near Boram airport two World War II bombs were exposed by the waves and had to be removed. In East Sepik province the village of PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was flooded. The PM was said to be visibly moved by the extent of the destruction.
The Papua New Guinea government has approved a K50 Million (AUD$30 Million) relief package. While the Australian Government this week announced it would contribute AUD$1 Million for the relief fund.// STUART NETTLE
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