Many Are Dead After Earthquake and Tsunami Hits Samoan Islands

This was the main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo,  American Samoa. A towering 15-foot tsunami triggered by a massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake swept ashore on American Samoa and the neighboring independent Samoa, flattening villages and killing dozens of people. Many others are missing at devastated National Park Service facilities.

A Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued after the massive undersea quake struck near American Samoa. There were "reports of a small tsunami reaching New Zealand and rising sea levels in several South Pacific island nations," says the New York Times. Japan braced for a possible tsunami and small tsunami waves were sighted on the Hawaiian coast.

President Obama declared "a major disaster exists" in American Samoa.  Luckily, supplies are pre-positioned in Hawaii, reports AFP.

Watch news reports from Australia and New Zealand, as well as raw video, WHEN YOU JUMP.

Comments

[Jim]

Thanks, Rod, for posting this.

This, of course, is the big news here in Hawai‘i. We were put on tsunami watch this morning, but by 10 a.m., the watch was canceled. None of us had an inkling until a couple of hours later how bad things were in Samoa. (It’s fascinating to me how, even in this age of instant communication, the full extent of a disaster often takes days to determine. In the case of G.W. Bush’s sleeping through Katrina, even weeks.)

The BBC is already reporting 85 dead. (American news, including the N.Y. Times, is, as usual, two steps behind in its reporting.) Of a total population of just 250,000—spread over two polities, Samoa and American Samoa—that is a significant portion. And I'm sure the total will grow.

Fortunately, most people outside of the towns in Samoa, especially in non-American Samoa, still grow and catch much of their own food, so this would be a lot worse for the survivors in other countries. But it is still tragic. Probably everyone has a realtive who is dead or injured.

I’m sure the people of our state will be sending lots and lots of help and probably volunteering labor—a good thing, of course. On the other hand, the victims of the current flooding in the Philippines—more than two million people with flooded homes—were already deeply impoverished, and have just become more so.

[Jinca]

I hope the people that do grow their own food don't have the land ruined by all of the filth that was probably washed over it by the waters. This is a terrible thing to happen to anyone and my thoughts are with those who have been effected by this.

[Paul561]

My heart and prayers go out the survivors.As a Florida native, I cannot imagine a 15-foot wave,coming ashore. I just cannot imagine what the America samoans went through.

[CC d'Afrique du Sud]

I think the only reason i'm still stuck to this country (besides its beautiful ppl;) is the fact that we are really fortunate not to have natural disasters of this scale (well actually none for that matter).

it must be devastating...

victims and family/friends of victims, you're in my thoughts and prayers...

[Derrick from Philly]

Glad you're safe, Jim.

[Jim]

Thanks, Derrick. No danger here.

The down side is I still have to go to work...

[Marcus]

@ Jim:

So glad to hear that you're safe.
I'm stationed in South Korea and also a big Rod 2.0 fan ...

We're safe here for now although there is a tropical storm warning.My heart goes out to all who were affected or hurt. And stay safe Jim...