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Ambulances line up at Whenuapai airport to receive injured Kiwis from an Air Force plane - Source: ONE News -
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A Royal New Zealand Air Force plane carrying Kiwis injured in the Samoan tsunami has landed safely at Whenuapai Airport in Auckland early on Saturday morning.
Fourteen injured New Zealanders, and six accompanying family members, were on the plane which was met by waiting ambulances about 1.15am.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully confirmed the Kiwis on the plane were seriously injured.
He told ONE News some of the injured were on stretchers and needed immediate surgery while others had horrific physical injuries and had suffered intense emotional trauma.
However, he was pleased the Air Force has managed to bring the injured New Zealanders home.
"To see their faces, you feel pretty good about the fact that you have managed to get them out...they just wanted to get home."
The minister said he was very apprehensive that the number of Kiwis killed by the tsunami may rise from the current toll of three as more bodies were receovered.
McCully also talked about the harrowing situation he saw firsthand in Samoa.
"I went to Sinalei Resort where we got a real sense of just how far that wave must have taken everything with it up the beach...anyone inside those (beachfront) fales would not have had a chance."
The Foreign Affairs Minister said he had conveyed the sympathy of the New Zealand people and government and had also affirmed New Zealand's support as Samoa moves from the initial emergency relief stage to reconstruction and rebuilding.
He was impressed with what was already being acheived in Samoa as locals pitched in to clear rubble and build shelters.
McCully told ONE News that Prime Minister John Key is expected
to arrive in Samoa on Saturday after being delayed by a pilots
strike at Denver and that an official memorial service in planned
in Samoa on Tuesday.
The New Zealand Red Cross has launched a Samoa Tsunami Relief
project at
www.givealittle.co.nz
.
Oxfam NZ is also accepting donations online at
www.oxfam.org.nz
, by
phone 0800 400 666, or you can make an automatic $20 donation,
please call 0900 600 20
Share your stories or condolences following Samoa's tsunami on our
messageboard below
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentjaxlino said on 2009-10-07 @ 14:15 NZDT: Report abusive post
anyone from the Satitoa village?
markservian said on 2009-10-05 @ 21:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
Tai Taufua is interviewed in this story... http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/church-comforts-many-in-samoa-3048401/video
Liviyj12 said on 2009-10-05 @ 19:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
i feel sorry fot those who have been affected.... i also feel sorry for Vai. he has lost so much of his family..:(
Micksta said on 2009-10-05 @ 11:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
My heart goes out to everyone who has lost family member/s in the earthquake and tsunami. I know what it would be like, as I was in Samoa as the earthquake struck and I read and saw the devastating effects of the tsunami that followed, both in newspapers and also for real. I would like to say that Nuu Black Sand Beach was hit my the tsunami and is in a bad state (Not that much of an attraction now).
PurpleOlive said on 2009-10-05 @ 09:04 NZDT: Report abusive post
I am so sad for all who have lost family members. We are humbled by how quickly lives can be lost. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you and I cry tears for your sweet babies. Your pain is shared by our thoughts and may you find the strength within yourselves to carry on, xox