Quake, Tsunami Kill at Least 34 in Pacific

Village Flattened by Wave in American Samoa after 8.3-Magnitude Earthquake at Dawn

(CBS/AP)  Last updated 8:54 p.m. EDT

Towering tsunami waves spawned by a powerful earthquake swept ashore on Samoa and American Samoa early Tuesday, flattening villages, killing at least 34 people and leaving dozens of workers missing at devastated National Park Service facilities.

Cars and people were swept out to sea by the fast-churning waters as survivors fled to high ground, where they remained huddled hours later. Hampered by power and communications outages, officials struggled to assess the casualties and damage.

A Samoan reporter says tsunami victims "are everywhere" in a hospital near a hard-hit area.

Associated Press reporter Keni Lesa said three or four villages on the popular tourist coast near the southern town of Lalomanu on Samoa's main island of Upolu had been "wiped out" by waves that roared ashore early Wednesday.

Lesa said he had visited the town's main hospital where "there are bodies everywhere," including at least one child.

Hampered by power and communications outages, officials struggled to assess the casualties and damage. The quake, with a magnitude between 8.0 and 8.3, struck around dawn about midway between Samoa and American Samoa.

The U.S. Geological Service, which estimated the magnitude at 8.0, said the quake struck 20 miles below the ocean floor, 120 miles from American Samoa and 125 miles from Samoa, with a 5.6-magnitude aftershock 20 minutes later.

A five-foot tsunami wave swept into Pago Pago, capital of American Samoa, shortly after the earthquake, sending sea water surging inland about 100 yards before receding, leaving some cars and debris stuck in mud. Electricity outages were reported, and telephone lines were jammed. The U.S. territory is about the size of Washington, D.C. and has a population of 65,000,

Reports differed, but tsunami waves are believed to have been as big as 20 feet high in places and reached as far as half a mile inland, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker.

Radio host John Rayner was down the coast from Pago Pago. "It was just absolute frantic. People were saying 'go high' or go pray somewhere," he told Whitaker. "Get away from ocean as quickly as you can."

Mike Reynolds, superintendent of the National Park of American Samoa, was quoted as saying four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high roared ashore soon afterward, reaching up to a mile inland. Holly Bundock, spokeswoman for the National Park Service's Pacific West Region in Oakland, Calif., spoke with him from his vantage point under a coconut tree uphill from Pago Pago Harbor; he reported that the park's visitor center and offices appeared to have been destroyed.

Bundock said Reynolds and another park service staffer had been able to locate only 20 percent of the park's 13 to 15 employees and 30 to 50 volunteers. The National Park of American Samoa is the only national park south of the equator, a scenic expanse of reefs, picturesque beaches, tropical forests and wildlife that include flying foxes and sea turtles.

Residents in both Samoa and American Samoa reported being shaken awake by the quake, which lasted two to three minutes, then fleeing uphill out of fear of a tsunami. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a general alert from American Samoa to New Zealand, warning of the prospect of a "destructive" wave.

The ramifications of the tsunami could be felt thousands of miles away, with federal officials saying strong currents and dangerous waves were forecast from California to Washington state. No major flooding was expected, however.

Mase Akapo, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in American Samoa, said at least 14 people were killed in four different villages on the main island of Tutuila, while an unspecified number of people died neighboring Samoa, with reports of people and cars swept out to sea. Thousands of people were still huddled on high ground hours after the initial quake, which was followed by at three aftershocks of at least 5.6 magnitude.

An unspecified number of fatalities and injuries reported in the Samoan village of Talamoa. New Zealander Graeme Ansell said the beach village of Sau Sau Beach Fale was leveled.

"It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out," Ansell told New Zealand's National Radio from a hill near Samoa's capital, Apia. "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."

Schools and businesses were closed, with the Samoan capital virtually deserted.

"Our house has been taken by the tsunami and we have lost everything," Teresa Sulili Dusi told National Radio, adding that "everything dropped on the floor and we thought the house was going to go down as well. Thank God, it didn't."

Local media said they had reports of some landslides in the Solosolo region of the main Samoan island of Upolu and damage to plantations in the countryside outside Apia.

American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono was at his Honolulu office assessing the situation but was having difficulty getting information, said Filipp Ilaoa, deputy director of the office.

"There is some water damage to residences," Ilaoa said. "To what extent and how much, and how many villages are effected, that is a mystery at this time."

Rescue workers found a scene of destruction and debris with cars overturned or stuck in mud. The staff of the port ran to higher ground, and police soon came by, telling residents to get inland. Several students were seen ransacking a gas station/convenience store.

Rear Adm. Manson Brown, Coast Guard commander for the Pacific region, said the Coast Guard is in the early stages of assessing what resources to send to American Samoa. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. John Titchen said a C-130 was being dispatched Wednesday to deliver aid, asssess damage and take the governor back home. A New Zealand air force P3 Orion maritime search airplane also was being sent.

One of the runways at Pago Pago International Airport was being cleared of widespread debris for emergency use, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said in Los Angeles.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was deploying teams to American Samoa to provide support and on the ground assessment.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of American Samoa and all those in the region who have been affected by these natural disasters," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.

The ramifications of the tsunami could be felt thousands of miles away, with federal officials saying strong currents and dangerous waves were forecast from California to Washington state. No major flooding was expected, however.

The earthquake and tsunami were big, but not on the same large scale of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami that killed more than 150,000 across Asia the day after Christmas in 2004, said tsunami expert Brian Atwater of the U.S. Geological Survey in Seattle.

The 2004 earthquake was at least 10 times stronger than the 8.0 to 8.3 measurements being reported for Tuesday's quake, Atwater said. It's also a different style of earthquake than the one that hit in 2004.

The tsunami hit American Samoa about 25 minutes after the quake, which is similar to the travel time in 2004, Atwater said. The big difference is there were more people in Indonesia at risk than in Samoa.

[neeyah]

From here in SanFrancisco and also Hawaii, our condolences to all of you in the islands of American Samoa, Western Samoa and also those from Phillipines, Indonesia, tonga Fiji and all other islands around them! SAMOA! TULAi!!! Ia maua pea le loto malosi! We are deeply affected by what has happened and are thankful that after a couple of days,most of the families are okay. We still encourage you all to keep them in prayers..God will find a way for our islands to find happiness again in the midst of all these disastrous events! Prayers...our strongest armor and weapon in this battle is prayers..our Father will guide us all!! Samoa ia loto toa! We all love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lauriettetofilau]

My friends, my family & myself are also praying for you Assasin_D, your family in the philippines, and the philippines island.

Harold, how could you be so insensitive & cruel to say such thing at a time like this? I'm too emotional right now to argue with you on that "fat samoan" topic however, i will pray for you. I pray that what we are going through right now, you will at some point in your life experience it (ten times fold).

God Be with Samoa & the Philippines

[Assassin_D]

Please also help my country. Days had passed since the tropical storm Ondoy (International code name Ketsana) devastated some regions in the Philippines and it would really take long before we recover from that traumatic experience. I kindly ask for your time to please pray for my country and most especially to the victims of this calamity. We truly need your prayers and help. Here is a link to Philippine National Red Cross http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx
Thank you very much and may God be with you?

[areuforreal]

Assasin I read about the flooding and I do wish all well.Please accept my sincere sympathies for the Philippines and Samoa.

[lauriettetofilau]

My brother in-law Daves Mother (noella), her store & gas station (Leone Village) is wiped out. She was caught in the tsunami which took her passed the catholic church, she's safe now. However, the area where her store once was, is gone. Dave is going back & forth to Leone searching for survivors to bring to his home for food & shelter. Dave found 2 dead elderly woman in leone, one stuck inside a small car, & one stuck underneath a trailblazer. People & children who were on their way to work & school are still missing. My Prayers are with you all.
Pago is wiped out, post office in ******** is underwater, & nu'uuli got hit 4 hours ago.
My heart is aching for my family & friends in America Samoa, i cannot stop praying & crying.

[niphae]

Please pray for our people.. From: Waianae, Hawaii

[niphae]

We're proud to be Samoans, but hey this is the time that our people need our prayers and our blessings, at times like this we shouldn't be saying things that they don't wanna hear or read, please!!! Our prayers and our condolence goes out to our families on both Islands, God will always be with you all and his holy spirit will be around all of you and cover all of you with warm blankets, and give you all the lights you need. Mahalo and Soifua,,, We love you All!!!!!!

[lainesamoa]

For all you Samoans out there, tonight at 11:00 o'clock we are all saying prayers for our families and our people on the islands. Please, don't forget to say silent prayers where ever you maybe, and sing church songs for our lost souls."Iesu aumai le manuia pe'a tu'ua i matou.Se'ia olioli lave i matou ua punonou. Foa'i mai le loto tele, i le vasa nei ua sou.Foa'i mai le loto tele i le vasa nei ua sou".Fa'avae i le Atua Samoa, Alofaaga, Laine

[proud_samoan]

i am a samoan> and happened to come on here and people are just saying whatever the hell they want to say.i dnt kno u harold but i think u shld watch out talking about samoans being fat and floating on water. its not funny.these people back home are our loved ones.so i ask you please to not talk about our people. especially when theres people dying out there rite at this minute. and they are still searching for more people on island.so please the best you could do is pray..if not then you kno wat...thank you, praying for our families and everyone in American Samoa..

[lainesamoa]

This is a reply to Harold, well sir, in any culture, there are fat, skinny, and average people.Samoan people are kind people who have a lot of respect for other cultures.Samoan people when they heard unfortunate news about people of all kinds, they say prayers and hope that everyone who is affected by unfortunate events will find comfort somehow.I am a Samoan and to see an ignorant comment like yours makes me sad for you.Maybe someday you'll feel what its like to be in a bad situation and people make ignorant and heartless comments at you.Thank you to each and everyone of you who offers prayers and sympathy for what happened to our families on both Samoan islands.Our family on island of Upolu is doing alright except they haven't heard any news from one of our sister and uncle in American Samoa.We are praying for every family and everyone that are affected by this. Fa'avae i le Atua Samoa, Love, Laine Kitiona O'Brien

[sadhanna]

I am amazed at the low level of character and lack of intelligence. The idiots making fun of this catastrophe must be the same jerks who support insurance companies (even though they are the future victims of same) and love Sara Palin. Grow up!!! This is a tragedy. Instead of making jokes about people suffering and dying, off some help, at least some compassion.

[tofi_ata]

My families at the village of Malaela has confirmed that the whole village has been washed out flat...one old couple cant make it to the higher lands and a couple of children were unlucky enough to survive..not a house is left standing but a couple of church buildings that are half destroyed are the only houses left standing...
Local radio reports that another village Lefaga is reported that more than 100 people are missing and a search is underway..!

[stuart-johns1]

Only a 5' tsunami??? I live in Florida and we have regular waves bigger than that. Is this a mis-print? I cannot see how a 5' wave can destroy an entire village. Something does'nt make sense with this story.

[tofi_ata]

am a Samoan and have great bride about my country...i want to let you stuart know that we get used to tropical cyclones and hurricanes,,its normal to us,,,but havent experience tsunami/tidal waves until today,,,so dont you dare say anything to others that you know nothing about...we know what happened because we have families who are at the worst side of the islands where hit the most and trying to cope with it..if you dont believe it...suck it up!!we are dealing with this slowly as we have loved ones who lost their lives in no time coz of the tsunami...i dont care who you are and what happened to where you are..but it happened to us now..and it doesnt matter how big or small it is,,,still it took lives with it...so yeah..be realistic man! however i thank all the people around the world who are care enough to show sympathy to our people..not some nasty comments like this..i'll keep you all posted for any progress!!

[stuart-johns1]

I was'nt making a nasty comment at all! And I am sympathetic. But I was just asking how a 5' wave can be called a Tsunami. And I was asking because I live on the beach and we get waves like that, and bigger, all the time and they don't destroy our towns.

But the one poster said something about speed. I don't know how fast that "Tsunami" was moving, but at that speed I suppose it could and would do much damage. I never even thought of the speed.

And HaroldR1074, that does'nt make me a dunce. But I thank you for the post anyway.

[gramto8]

by stuart-johns1 September 29, 2009 6:33 PM EDT
Only a 5' tsunami??? I live in Florida and we have regular waves bigger than that. Is this a mis-print? I cannot see how a 5' wave can destroy an entire village. Something does'nt make sense with this story.
______________________________________________
From the article:

Mike Reynolds, superintendent of the National Park of American Samoa, was quoted as saying four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high roared ashore soon afterward, reaching up to a mile inland. Holly Bundock, spokeswoman for the National Park Service's Pacific West Region in Oakland, Calif., spoke with him from his vantage point under a coconut tree uphill from Pago Pago Harbor; he reported that the park's visitor center and offices appeared to have been destroyed.

Reading always been a problem for you or just recently? Even if it were a five foot tsunami, the fact that the entire water column is involved makes a huge difference. Regular waves involve only the top layer of the water.

[sialaurmilla]

My name is Sia. I live here in American Samoa. So far 6 people have died from my village (Leone) which is on the west side of American Samoa. 5 people have died from Pago Pago, 2 from Asili, and one from Poloa.

[John_Merritt]

Sia:

My sympathies and prayers to you and the people affected. Please take care of yourselves and know we in the US are here to help anyway we can. God bless you and your citizens.

[pinkroses00]

HI my name is Melanie Nodurft.. I have a son that lives with his dad in American Samoa Pago Pago... His name is Devon Neal Iatala Lacambra.. His dad name is Jeremy Lacambra... I need to find out if my son is okay.. Hes only 8 years old.. Im praying that he is okay after all this nature disaster.. I couldnt get ahold of them.. How bad is it? Do you know anyone by that name? Im the mother and have rights to know whats going on.. Hope to hear from you..

[nascar40sm]

Sia: My name is matalena I am trying to find my dad and mom if they are o.k. their names are John and Meisi Hunkin. I am very devastated about what happen. Please let me know.

[areuforreal]

Sia I also wish to express my regret and sorrow for those who lost loved ones. Most of us in america are not total jerks like haroldR1074. I wish you all well.

[Chrissy5559]

The filming already wrapped so there was no from the show there.

[crystalblue3]

I'm wondering the same thing! Does anyone have any info or know where we can find out?

[pwgriffith]

This season wrapped several months ago, but next season will be an All-Star season and it was also filming there. However it wrapped a couple of months ago. The quake hitA American Samoa, but the show was filiming in Samoa. But the few crew that was still there said they are fine. http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/samoa-quake-will-it-impact-survivor-7946

[parisdakar]

Where did the word 'temblor' come from?

[bajajohn1]

Comes from the latin temblar, which means to shake.

[quapawsix]

Now they get to find out what it is like to really survive a real life experience.

[samoanpride]

weo first of all...ufa...ur suppose to have sympathy for the lost soul not make fun of em..wat if if was ur family there?...weo think before u say things...thats my hometown so respect us as we have for u...aikae...kefe...

[skyrone]

Hmmmmmmmmmm.. was tv show "Survivor Samoa" effected by this in any way?

[erasmus111]

No. It's on TV now, but it was actually filmed a number of months ago.