Samoa mourns tsunami victims

Published: 7:47PM Friday October 09, 2009 Source: Newstalk ZB/ONE News

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A mass burial service has been held in the Samoan capital for some of the victims of last week's tsunami.

Police officers carried the individual coffins to the grave site, where they were placed in personalised plots.

Close to a 1000 people attended the event including all the figures of the government and many of those involved in rescue and relief efforts.

Although planned as a mass funeral for all victims, only 10 families agreed to their loved ones being buried at a mass grave outside the capital.

As well as a national day of mourning, a half day's holiday was declared with business and government offices shutting their doors at midday.

More than 140 Samoans were killed in last week's devastating Pacific tsunami.

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