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An image of the destruction in Samoa, taken from the Air Force Orion aircraft - Source: New Zealand Defence Force -
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Relief workers are continuing to hunt for survivors in Samoa and American Samoa in the wake of Wednesday's deadly tsunamis.
More than 100 people were killed when a series of waves slammed
into the tiny Pacific islands, triggered by a 8.0 magnitude
earthquake southwest of American Samoa.
Television images show homes ripped apart, cars submerged in the
sea or lodged in trees, and large fishing boats hurled ashore by
the waves.
Some victims were washed out to sea by waves that reached at least
six metres high.
US President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in American
Samoa and ordered federal aid to help recovery efforts.
A New Zealand
Orion and Hercules are in Samoa to help with
search and rescue efforts, while two US C-130 transport planes are
due to arrive in the US territory on Thursday.
And Australia is airlifting humanitarian supplies and medical
personnel to Samoa.
"This will not be a short-term response," says Craig Fugate, the
head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which co-ordinates
the federal government's response to disasters.
"We know we're going to have to work to get resources in there,
both in the immediate, which is the airlift, but also looking at
shipping to bring in resources that are going to be needed in the
next couple of weeks."
Togiola Tulafono, the governor of American Samoa, says at least 24
people have been killed and 50 injured, with the southern portion
of the main Tutuila island devastated.
Meanwhile, dozens of people were killed in Samoa, including several foreigners and tourists.
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has
confirmed
two New Zealanders are dead and another presumed
dead.
Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless in both
countries.
Huge waves, buildings demolished
Shortly after local radio tsunami warnings were issued in Samoa and
American Samoa, waves started crashing into the capital of American
Samoa, Pago Pago, and villages and resorts on the southern coasts,
witnesses say.
Joey Cummings, a radio broadcaster in American Samoa, says the
tsunami produced a destructive, muddy river that swept away trees,
boulders, cars and boats.
"If you have a building and it wasn't made out of concrete, bricks,
it doesn't exist any more," he says.
"You just have a series of concrete slabs with debris strewn all
over the place. It looks like a bomb went off."
Ausegalia Mulipola, assistant chief executive of Western Samoa's
disaster management office, says there were reports of bodies
covered in the large amounts of sand brought onshore by the
waves.
Disaster officials say the death toll in Samoa alone may reach 100
as rescuers search for bodies on the southern shore of Upolu
island.
Twenty villages on the island, including Lepa, the home of
Samoa's prime minister, have reportedly been destroyed.
"Thankfully the alarm sounded on the radio and gave people time to
climb to higher ground. But not everyone escaped," says Prime
Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, adding that two children en
route to hospital 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 to Apia, the
capital of Samoa.
The waves also destroyed tourist resorts in the area.
Wendy Booth, owner of the Samoan resort Sea Breeze on Upolu, says
she and her husband were almost washed away when the waves
destroyed their resort and carried its restaurant out to sea.
"The second wave hit and came up through the floor, pushed out the
back door and threw us outside," she says, adding that the couples
hanged onto each other and a handrail as parts of their resort
disintegrated.
New Zealand says there are also serious concerns about the
neighbouring island nation of Tonga after a four-metre wave hit its
northern coast.
Tongan officials have confirmed seven deaths, while three other
people are missing.
A national disaster has been declared on the island of
Niuatopu-Tatu.
The island's hospital has suffered serious damage and the
airport's runway has been severely affected.
The two Samoas and Tonga have a combined population of about
400,000 people and rely on a combination of subsistence
agriculture, fishing and tourism.
The UN says Red Cross teams have mobilized more than 100 emergency
workers who are collecting coconuts to help meet early food and
water needs in the affected Pacific islands.
Anyone worried about the safety of non-New Zealand relatives in Samoa should contact the Samoan High Commission on 04 472 0953.
Share your stories or condolences following Samoa's
tsunami on our messageboard
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