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Source: Reuters -
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A series of tsunamis smashed into the Pacific island nations of Samoa killing possibly more than 100 people, some washed out to sea, destroying villages and injuring hundreds, officials said on Wednesday.
US President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in American Samoa, a US territory, and ordered federal aid to help recovery efforts, with a US C-130 military transport aircraft due to leave Honolulu for the tiny South Pacific islands.
Television images showed homes ripped apart, cars submerged in the sea or lodged in trees and large fishing boats hurled ashore by the waves generated by a 8.0 magnitude quake southwest of American Samoa.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at least 60 people had been killed in west side of Samoa. Disaster officials said the toll may reach 140 as rescuers search for bodies buried under sand in flattened villages along the southern shore of the island of Upolu.
Twenty villages on Upolu's south side were reportedly destroyed, including Lepa, the home of Samoa's prime minister. The area is also the main tourist area, and the waves destroyed some resorts.
"Thankfully the alarm sounded on the radio and gave people time to climb to higher ground. But not everyone escaped," said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, adding two children en route to hospital for flu treatment were swept away.
"Their car was just taken away. I'm so shocked, so saddened by all the loss," he told reporters on a flight from Auckland, New Zealand to Apia, the capital of Western Samoa.
The Australian government said two Australians, a six-year old girl and a woman aged 50, were killed and six others were missing. "It does look like there will be substantial loss of life in Samoa," said Australia's Aid Minister Bob McMullan.
In neighbouring American Samoa at least 24 people were killed and 50 injured, American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono said from Hawaii, with the southern portion of the main Tutuila island "devastated". The death toll there may also rise, said officials.
Director of American Samoa's homeland security Mike Sala said the waves that hit Pago Pago village were about 6 metres (20 feet) high.
"Some buildings were completely demolished by the waves, you know, there's no buildings anymore except the foundation," Sala told Radio New Zealand.
New Zealand said there were also serious concerns about the neighbouring island nation of Tonga after a 4-metre (13-foot) wave hit its northern coast. Tongan officials said they feared as many as 10 people had been killed.
The two Samoas and Tonga have a combined population of around 400,000 people.
Tsunamis reach Hawaii
A Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued after an 8.0 magnitude undersea quake off American Samoa, with small tsunamis reaching New Zealand, Hawaii and Japan.
A fresch tsunami alert issued early on Wednesday evening has been cancelled.
An Indian Ocean tsunami on Dec 26, 2004, which killed about 230,000 people across 11 countries, is the worst on record.
Shortly after local radio tsunami warnings were issued in American and Western Samoa, waves started crashing into the capital of American Samoa, Pago Pago, and villages and resorts on the southern coasts, witnesses said.
"It's believed as of now, there could be a number close to 100 deaths," said Ausegalia Mulipola, assistant chief executive of Western Samoa's disaster management office.
"Some areas have been flattened and the tsunami brought a lot of sand onshore, so there have been reports the sand has covered some of the bodies," Mulipola said.
Wendy Booth, owner of the Samoan resort Sea Breeze on the southside of Upolu said she and her husband Chris were almost washed away when the waves destroyed their resort.
"The second wave hit and came up through the floor, pushed out the back door and threw us outside," Wendy Booth told Fairfax Radio Network in Australia.
She said the two survived by hanging onto each other and a handrail as parts of their resort disintegrated around them.
"Our restaurant just floated out to sea complete, until it smashed up in the water," Chris Booth told Australian television.
Samoa's Hotel Association chief executive Nynette Sass said many
people fleeing the waves were washed out to sea.
"On the seaside there's quite a few families ... with all their
children gone, washed out. Some tried to escape in cars, and the
waves got the cars. It's really heartbreaking," Sass told Radio New
Zealand.
Red Cross teams had mobilised more than 100 emergency workers
who were collecting coconuts to help meet early food and water
needs, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
said.
People concerned about family members in Samoa should try to make contact with them in the first instance. Those with ongoing concerns can call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 04 439 8000, and provide as many contact details as possible.
Anyone worried about the safety of non-New Zealand relatives in Samoa should contact the Samoan High Commission on 04 472 0953.
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