Wino Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 SYDNEY (Reuters) – A series of tsunamis smashed into the Pacific island nations of American and Western Samoa killing possibly more than 100 people, some washed out to sea, destroying villages and injuring hundreds, officials said on Wednesday. U.S. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in American Samoa, a U.S. territory, and ordered federal aid to help recovery efforts, with a U.S. 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 Western Samoa. Disaster officials said the toll may reach 100 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 neighboring 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 meters (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 neighboring island nation of Tonga after a 4-meter (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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoker Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 That is horrible. God bless the survivors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 That is horrible. God bless the survivors. Very sad. How far inland or how high up must one be to be safe from a typical tsunami? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted September 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Very sad. How far inland or how high up must one be to be safe from a typical tsunami? I would think it would be different in each case. The strength of the tsunami and the height of the wave would enter into the equation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 It is a sad and scary thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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