American Samoa Hit by Tsunami

Towering tsunamis churned up by a huge earthquake slammed into the Samoan islands, killing at least 113 people as they wiped out entire villages and flattened tourist resorts. Monster waves that witnesses and officials said measured between three and 7.5 metres high pounded the remote Pacific islands of Samoa and Western Samoa after an 8.0-magnitude undersea quake struck in the early morning.

While the quake toppled buildings and sent thousands fleeing to high ground as the tsunami approached, many others were hit by the walls of water that swept people and cars out to sea and obliterated coastal settlements.

US President Barack Obama called the incident in the outlying US territory of American Samoa a “major disaster” and vowed “aggressive” action to help survivors. “I am closely monitoring these tragic events, and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response,” he said.

Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he was “shocked beyond belief.”

“So much has gone. So many people are gone,” he told the Australian news agency AAP. Up to 70 villages stood in the way of the waves in the worst-hit area and each housed from 300-800 people.

Nine members of one family were killed in the village of Lalomanu on the south-east of Samoa, a relative said. “My family own the Taufua Beach Fales and we have confirmation that nine members of our family have perished.”—AFP