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A powerful 8.3 earthquake has struck in the South Pacific, spawning a tsunami that has swept onto the islands of Samoa and American Samoa, killing at least 14 people.
The casualties occurred in American Samoa, in four different villages on the main island of Tutuila. There have been reports of deaths in neighbouring Samoa, but officials have yet to release specific numbers.
New Zealander Graeme Ansell said the beach village of Sau Sau Beach Fale was destroyed.
"It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out," Ansell told National Radio in Samoa. "There's not a building standing. We've all clambered up hills, and one of our party has a broken leg. There will be people in a great lot of need 'round here."
Tsunamis were spotted at Apia, Western Samoa, and at Pago Pago, American Samoa, and measured about 1.5 metres above normal sea level.
The quake happened at about 6:48 a.m. local time, and witnesses reported the ground shaking for about three minutes.
The U.S. Geological Service said the quake occurred 35 kilometres below the ocean floor, about 190 kilometres from American Samoa and 200 kilometres from Samoa.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert for the South pacific region, including New Zealand, American Samoa and a number of Pacific islands.
It said the tsunami could be "destructive" along some coastlines.
American Samoa is a U.S. territory that is about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Only about 65,000 people live there.
Full Version: Tsunami Hit Samoa
magnitude 8.3 is very strong but nowhere near the 2004 level. I wonder how many nations were affected
The last couple of days have been bad for South East Asia.
Floods, typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Hope all AF members and their families are OK.
Floods, typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Hope all AF members and their families are OK.
Samoans are some cool people
QUOTE (Ralf @ Oct 1 2009, 05:49 AM) 
The last couple of days have been bad for South East Asia.
Floods, typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Hope all AF members and their families are OK.
Floods, typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Hope all AF members and their families are OK.
yea its like the apocalypse
Samoan baby gets renamed 'Tsunami' after quake escape
APIA -- A two-day-old baby boy who survived the giant waves which smashed into Samoa following a massive earthquake off the Pacific island has been named Tsunami in memory of the disaster.
A male relative caring for the newborn lifted him above his head and ran for higher ground just as a wall of water hit his house in the village of Saleapaga on the southern coast on Tuesday, Australian Associated Press reported.
The man waded through surging waters and floating debris to bring the child safely to his parents Fineaso and Terri Agaalenuu.
“My uncle survived and so did our little baby,” father Fineaso said Friday.
“We were so relieved, so happy, we cried.
“We thought it was a miracle, because so many little babies didn't make it.”
The child had at first been named Narineaso but his parents decided to rename him following his lucky escape.
“So we called him Tsunami. It's a name our people can never forget,” Fineaso said.
Samoan disaster officials fear as many as 150 people, many of them children, may have died in a massive tsunami that pounded the Pacific nation and also caused deaths in American Samoa and Tonga.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2009/10/0...Samoan-baby.htm
APIA -- A two-day-old baby boy who survived the giant waves which smashed into Samoa following a massive earthquake off the Pacific island has been named Tsunami in memory of the disaster.
A male relative caring for the newborn lifted him above his head and ran for higher ground just as a wall of water hit his house in the village of Saleapaga on the southern coast on Tuesday, Australian Associated Press reported.
The man waded through surging waters and floating debris to bring the child safely to his parents Fineaso and Terri Agaalenuu.
“My uncle survived and so did our little baby,” father Fineaso said Friday.
“We were so relieved, so happy, we cried.
“We thought it was a miracle, because so many little babies didn't make it.”
The child had at first been named Narineaso but his parents decided to rename him following his lucky escape.
“So we called him Tsunami. It's a name our people can never forget,” Fineaso said.
Samoan disaster officials fear as many as 150 people, many of them children, may have died in a massive tsunami that pounded the Pacific nation and also caused deaths in American Samoa and Tonga.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2009/10/0...Samoan-baby.htm
Sad. I hope everything goes well for them.
My prayer go to the people of Indonesia as well.
My prayer go to the people of Indonesia as well.
A new earthquake warning plan has been announced.
Let's hope it is better than such previous plans.
But in cases where the tsunami strikes only a few minutes after the quake, even the fastest warning system will not give people much time to escape.
Let's hope it is better than such previous plans.
But in cases where the tsunami strikes only a few minutes after the quake, even the fastest warning system will not give people much time to escape.
It is very strange, but have you noticed that people all seem to love living in places that are prone to earthquakes, floodings, Tsunamis, Droughts, and other natural disasters? Why? And they all seem to defy nature. Just look at the Pacific Islamds, like Indonesia, or the Ganges Delta, people will build their houses right on the beech next to the ocean when they know full well that sooner or later there will be a disaster. Why? Tell me. Even in sophisticated California, people will build multi-million dollar houses on seismic fault lines or in fire prone areas and make very little provisions to build where it is safe.
QUOTE (elleX0 @ Oct 16 2009, 04:52 AM)
It is very strange, but have you noticed that people all seem to love living in places that are prone to earthquakes, floodings, Tsunamis, Droughts, and other natural disasters? Why? And they all seem to defy nature. Just look at the Pacific Islamds, like Indonesia, or the Ganges Delta, people will build their houses right on the beech next to the ocean when they know full well that sooner or later there will be a disaster. Why? Tell me. Even in sophisticated California, people will build multi-million dollar houses on seismic fault lines or in fire prone areas and make very little provisions to build where it is safe.
The tsunami reached a mile inland in places like indonesia it was 2 miles inland.
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