FACTBOX-Indonesia's Nias island at a glance

FACTBOX-Indonesia's Nias island at a glance

JAKARTA, March 29 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude
of 8.7 off the west coast of Sumatra has killed hundreds on the
Indonesian island of Nias, a popular destination with foreign and
local surfers.

The quake struck late on Monday in nearly the same spot as a
magnitude-9 event last Dec. 26 that triggered a huge tsunami
which left nearly 300,000 people dead or missing across the
Indian Ocean region.

More than 100 people died on tropical, palm-fringed Nias as a
result of that quake and tsunami.
NIAS FACTS.
- The island with some 700,000 residents is part of Indonesia's
North Sumatra province. It lies 125 km (80 miles) off the west
coast of Sumatra. Sibolga is the closest mainland city.
- Around 95 percent of the residents on the 5,600 sq km (2,100 sq
mile) island are Christian. The rest are Muslim.
- Lagundri Bay on Nias is known as a surfers' paradise due to
challenging waves up to 3 metres high peeling off notorious
right-hand reef breaks.
- The main town, Gunungsitoli, is on the east coast. Its airport
was damaged by the latest quake.

REUTERS

GetRTR 3.00 -- MAR 29, 2005 14:46:55