-
Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
View Photos
-
Related
Samoan families are starting the heartbreaking task of burying their dead.
The Taufua family of Lalomanu are one of those to face this unavoidable reality of the disaster.
Families and rescue workers have fished bloated corpses from the South Pacific off Samoa and pulled bodies from the mud and twisted rubble of devastated islands as the death toll from a series of tsunamis nears 200.
The confirmed death toll from Wednesday's tsunamis, caused by an 8 magnitude undersea quake, stood at 149 in Samoa, 31 on American Samoa and nine on neighbouring Tonga.
Many bodies, tiny and big, are among the countless dead and there's no way to soften the pain, it's simply overpowering.
Outside the morgue, families scan the victims list. Soon they too may get to view their loved ones and the result is the same.
On Friday, the Samoan government met with the families of the dead with a plan to build a memorial and a common grave site for the victims.
"They're proposing to help and assist with funeral costs," says Ben Taufua, victim's family.
Ben Taufua has lost 14 family members, all swallowed by the tsunami.
He was among the many relatives who rushed to Samoa after hearing news of the tsunami. Upon arriving, began the ordeal of searching for the bodies of the family.
"It is just so surreal, it's a nightmare," he says.
He will now help to lay them to rest, determined to bury his father, sisters, nephews and nieces at home in Lalomanu.
"We are ready for it, that was always the case, out there looking for the bodies and the others were actually digging graves."
Ben's nephew's wife is in intensive care and her three children are in the morgue.
"For her peace of mind, Sina must kiss her children goodbye," says a family member.
Already some of Australia's dead have been flown home but the bodies of three New Zealanders remain in Samoa for now. On Friday morning six injured Kiwis were still recovering in hospital.
"The people here are amazing, they just work so hard to look after us and there's little resources, you know, but they do they best they can - it's been amazing," says Helen Parry, Mount Maunganui school teacher.
On Friday night a number are en route home after being cleared for travel by Kiwi medics.
But what is left behind is an air of death that remains suffocating to the island nation.
"Whatever the future brings, we will just have to survive
today," says Ben.
The New Zealand Red Cross has launched a Samoa Tsunami
Relief project at givealittle.co.nz Oxfam NZ is also accepting
donations online at
www.oxfam.org.nz
, by phone 0800 400 666, or you can make make an automatic
$20 donation, please call 0900 600 20
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