Kiwi's surfing group tell of fight to survive tsunami

The MV Midas burst into flames after colliding with another boat when a tsunami tore them from their anchorages in Indonesia yesterday. Photo / Supplied

A group of surfers, including a New Zealander, an American and eight Australians, have arrived in the Indonesian city of Padang with a harrowing tale of survival in the tsunami on Sumatra's west coast.

They said they were on the back deck of their anchored charter boat when the wall of water smashed them into a neighbouring vessel and triggered a fire that ripped through their cabin.

"They hit directly in the side of the boat, piercing a fuel tank," American Daniel North told Associated Press.

"Almost immediately, the captain gave the order to abandon ship and everyone got off the boat."

The men clung to surfboards, fenders - anything that floated - as they washed through the wetlands, then climbed the highest trees they could find and waited for more than 90 minutes until they felt safe.

They arrived back in Padang yesterday after an 11-hour journey through rough seas, and five of the group were taken to hospital in Padang for treatment of minor injuries.

The tsunami swept some of the men - including the boat's skipper, Australian tour guide Rick Hallet - hundreds of metres into the jungle.

Mr Hallet said that when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck, he heard an almighty roar.

"One of the surfers asked, 'What is that?' I said, 'Tsunami' ... It hit us within a few seconds."

At least 154 people died in the tsunami, and about 400 are missing.

- NZPA