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Computer graphs at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center - Source: Reuters -
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At least two dozen people are feared dead in Samoa and American
Samoa and many more have been injured after a massive earthquake
and tsunami hit the Pacific island nations.
More than a dozen people are feared dead in Samoa, including at
least three children, while at least 14 people were reported killed
in American Samoa.
The Red Cross and media reports put the death toll at at least 28,
while the ABC said it could be as high as 40.
The federal government says a number of Australians have been
injured in Samoa.
"The early reports don't suggest that any of them are very serious,
but they are in hospital," parliamentary secretary for
international development assistance Bob McMullan told Sky
News.
The 8.3 magnitude quake struck at 6.48am Tuesday local time midway
between the two island nations.
It triggered a
tsunami warning for the South Pacific region ,
from American Samoa to New Zealand. The warning was later
cancelled.
Police in Samoa report five people dead while Tupua Tamasese
Hospital in the capital of Apia told local radio the tsunami had
killed at least three people, two believed to be children - and
more than 50 are injured.
Keni Lesa, editor of the Samoa Observer newspaper, says the toll
has risen to more than a dozen, with many children among the
dead.
"The numbers keep going up but from what I've heard there are 14,
maybe up to 20 people dead and several children, three and probably
more," Lesa told said.
"And there are dozens with injuries and even more missing.
"It's a real mess and we're very worried at this stage that the
numbers are far higher."
More people are believed to have died in nearby American Samoa, the
US National Park Service reports.
"I can confirm there is damage, I can confirm there are deaths and
I can confirm there are casualties," a spokeswoman for the service
said by phone. "I cannot say any more at the moment."
Officials in American Samoa say at least 14 people were killed when
the tsunami swept ashore.
Mase Akapo, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, says
the deaths occurred in four different villages on the main island
of Tutuila, with six in the western area of Leone.
There were reports of thousands of people left homeless in American
Samoa.
Officials on Samoa said an undetermined number of people had been
killed or injured.
A member of the National Disaster Management committee said the
casualties occurred in the village of Talamoa.
Samoan police have confirmed that villages on the country's
southern coast had been hardest hit.
Worst affected was the island of Upolu, where at least two villages
were flattened.
A resident of one of the villages, Theresa Falele Dussey, told
Radio New Zealand her house has been destroyed by the tsunami, as
were houses and cars in a neighbouring village.
She has been evacuated to Mt Vaea near Apia. "We just thanking God
that we're alive," she said.
New Zealand tourist Graeme Ansell said the beach village of Faofao
on Upolu Island was levelled.
"It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out," Ansell
told National Radio from a hill near Samoa's capital, Apia.
"There's not a building standing. We've all clambered up hills, and
one of our party has a broken leg. There will be people in a great
lot of need 'round here."
The powerful quake jolted people awake.
In Apia, families reported shaking that lasted for up to three
minutes.
"It was pretty strong; it was long and lasted at least two
minutes," one resident told local radio.
"It's the strongest I have felt, and we ran outside. You could see
all the trees and houses were shaking," he said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre put the quake's magnitude at 8.3
while the US Geological Service put it at 8.0.
The US Geological Service said the quake struck 35km below the
ocean floor, 190km from American Samoa and 200km from Samoa.
Aftershocks are continuing to jolt the two nations, as well as
Tonga's northern tourist islands of Vava'u.
New Zealand had been expected to be hit by a one-metre high wave
about 10am local time, however the alert has since been cancelled
after waves reached just 40cm high.
A 1.5-metre tsunami wave swept into the American Samoa capital Pago
Pago shortly after the earthquake, sending sea water surging inland
about 100 metres before receding, leaving some cars stuck in
mud.
Electricity outages were reported and telephone lines were
jammed.
In Fagatogo, water reached the waterfront town's meeting field and
covered portions of the main highway, which also was plagued by
rock slides.
Mr McMullan said while a number of Australians had been injured it
appeared to be not as bad as it may have been.
"My advice is that the Australians are stable," he said.
"All of them have been able to contact their own families directly
and none of them have said to the high commission they need any
special extra assistance."
Do you have any information about the tsunami in New
Zealand and Samoa? Contact ONE News on 0800 886 397 or
news@tvnz.co.nz
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