When the 8.0 earthquake hit just south of the islands of Samoa on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 06:48:10 the quick thinking staff at the Salani Surf Resort evacuated all their guests to higher ground immediately, but the entire resort was washed away by the tsunami, according to a story on Goldcoast.com.au.
“They didn’t get any warning before it hit but our resort managers said they felt the earthquake really badly and then they noticed the water level lowered to the point where reef coral was showing, which isn’t normal,” resort owner Shannon Donato said. . . “They didn’t take any chances and evacuated everyone, including getting them to tell the village to evacuate. . . “They saved a lot of people from being hurt.” . . All eight bungalows, a restaurant, bar, staff accommodation, two surf boats and volleyball courts were washed away by the tsunami and looters stole from the only building left standing — the manager’s bungalow.
Donato said the staff was “very shaken,” but she is glad everyone is okay.
That was not the case at neighboring Samoa surf resort Coconuts Beach Resort, according to a story on etravelblackboard.com:
. . . Sinalei Reef Resort and Coconuts Beach Resort have both sustained considerable damage to public areas as well as guest rooms and villas, while one Tasmanian death was a guest at Coconuts. . . We would also like to send our deepest condolences to the Annandale family who own and operate Sinalei Reef Resort. It has come to our knowledge that Tui Annandale much loved industry personality and wife of Joe Annadale, Sinalei Reef Resort Owner, was killed in the tsunami yesterday.
According to the Sinalei Reef Resort website “all guests and staff on the resort at the time the Tsunami hit are safe and accounted for.” Both resorts are currently closed.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those effected by the tsunami.
[Link: Goldcoast.com.au and etravelblackboard]
I’VE ONLY BEEN TO THE SALANI SURF CAMP ONCE IN 2006. MY ” DEEPEST” HEART FELT SYMPOTHY TO THE PEOPLE OF SAMOA. MY GOD USE THIS TRAGEDY TO SHOW US ALL HOW QUICKLY LIVES CIRCUMSTANCES CAN CHANGE AND WE ALL NEED TO BE DEEPLY GRATFUL FOR HIS GRACE AND LOVE EACH MINUTE WE HAVE WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THANK YOU ALL AT THE SURF CAMP FOR GETTING EVERYONE OUT SO QUICKLY. I PRAY THAT ALL YOUR NEIGHBORING VILLAGES HAVE SURVIVED. MY GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE BE WITH THE PEOPLE OF SAMOA WHO HAVE SUCH A LOVING SPIRIT. I KNOW GOOD WILL COME OUT OF THIS EVEN THOUGH IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE RIGHT NOW.
SINCERLY, CHIRS GOVORKO.
PS. TO THE OWNERS OF SALANI , MAY YOU HAVE A QUICK AND SPEEDY RECOVERY. YOUR SURF CAMP IS AWESOME AND MAY IT’S BEST DAYS BE AHEAD.
This breaks my heart.
I stayed there a bunch of years ago and the camp and its employees were AMAZING.
I am so grateful they had the wisdom to evacuate and make it out safely. But it is an awful tragedy that this beautiful, serene little piece of heaven was wiped out.
I hope they choose to rebuild and continue on stronger than ever.
Blessings to everyone affected by what happened.
KB
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