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Samoa tsunami kills 'at least 20' Deadly tsunami in Pacific islands
(20 minutes later)
A tsunami caused by a powerful earthquake in the South Pacific has killed at least 20 people and injured 50 in Samoa, local media report. A tsunami triggered by a strong quake in the South Pacific has killed at least 28 people in Samoa, say reports.
Dr Lemalu Fiu of the main hospital in the capital, Apia, said the number of casualties is expected to rise as the injured arrive from coastal areas. Samoa's delegate to the US Congress, Eni Faleomavaega, told AFP thousands of people had been left homeless.
An 8.3-magnitude quake struck at 1748 GMT, generating 5.1ft (1.57m) waves in Apia and Pago Pago, American Samoa. Dr Lemalu Fiu, at a hospital in the Samoan capital, Apia, said the number of casualties was expected to rise as people arrived from coastal areas.
A Pacific tsunami warning was issued, but it has now been cancelled. An 8.3-magnitude quake struck at 1748 GMT, generating 15ft (4.5m) waves in some areas of Samoa and American Samoa.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said the quake struck at a depth of 33km (20 miles) some 190km from Apia. The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory - with a total population of about 250,000 people.
Radio New Zealand quoted Samoan residents as saying that villages were inundated and homes and cars swept away. Some of the victims in Samoa are believed to have been children. A tsunami warning was issued, but it has now been cancelled.
"Some of the areas there are only a few feet above sea level, so you can imagine the devastation," said Mr Faleomavaega.
"It caused severe damage to property, there are cars floating everywhere."
The Red Cross said at least 28 people had been killed in the region, reported AFP - 14 each in Samoa and American Samoa.
Talutala Mauala, Secretary General of the Red Cross in Samoa, said she was travelling to the country's south coast, where injuries had also been reported.
"We won't know the full extent of the damage until we get there and see for ourselves," she said.
Ms Mauala said it could take many months for people to rebuild their homes.
An Associated Press reporter said he had seen "bodies everywhere" in the main hospital in Lalomanu, on Samoa's main island of Upolu, including at least one child.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported that three South Koreans were among the dead and one is still missing.
Beaches gone
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said the quake struck at a depth of 33km (20 miles) some 190km from Apia. Waves of 5.1ft (1.57m) waves hit Apia and Pago Pago, American Samoa.
The water was swirling like a spa pool outwards [towards] the rim of the lagoon and in a few seconds the water sunk Ula Osasa-ManoEyewitness How earthquakes happen Animated guide: Tsunamis
Radio New Zealand quoted Samoan residents as saying that villages were inundated and homes and cars swept away.
"I can confirm there is damage, I can confirm there are deaths and I can confirm there are casualties," a Western Samoa police spokeswoman told Reuters."I can confirm there is damage, I can confirm there are deaths and I can confirm there are casualties," a Western Samoa police spokeswoman told Reuters.
"I cannot say any more at the moment.""I cannot say any more at the moment."
The water was swirling like a spa pool outwards [towards] the rim of the lagoon and in a few seconds the water sunk Ula Osasa-ManoEyewitness How earthquakes happen Animated guide: Tsunamis
Samoalive News said local radio stations had been receiving reported of high sea swells hitting coastal areas on the eastern and southern side of Upolu islandSamoalive News said local radio stations had been receiving reported of high sea swells hitting coastal areas on the eastern and southern side of Upolu island
"School has been called off for the day with tsunami warnings calling for people to head to higher grounds," the website said."School has been called off for the day with tsunami warnings calling for people to head to higher grounds," the website said.
Witnesses have reported scenes of destruction.Witnesses have reported scenes of destruction.
"It's horrible... The village is gone and my once beautiful beach front villa has now being submerged in water," Josh Nayangu told the BBC after fleeing the area on a small fishing boat with his wife and son."It's horrible... The village is gone and my once beautiful beach front villa has now being submerged in water," Josh Nayangu told the BBC after fleeing the area on a small fishing boat with his wife and son.
Ula Osasa-Mano, who was visiting family on the island, told the BBC the water along the Apia seawall was turbulent.Ula Osasa-Mano, who was visiting family on the island, told the BBC the water along the Apia seawall was turbulent.
"The water was kind of swirling like a spa pool outwards [towards] the rim of the lagoon and in a few seconds the water sunk," Ula Osasa-Mano said."The water was kind of swirling like a spa pool outwards [towards] the rim of the lagoon and in a few seconds the water sunk," Ula Osasa-Mano said.
General alertGeneral alert
The PTWC - a branch of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - issued a general alert for the South Pacific region.The PTWC - a branch of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - issued a general alert for the South Pacific region.
Stuart Weinstein, the deputy director of the PTWC, told the BBC that the agency was monitoring the situation, but said the wave was expected to be "much smaller" than the 2004 Asian tsunami which killed about 230,000 people in 11 countries.Stuart Weinstein, the deputy director of the PTWC, told the BBC that the agency was monitoring the situation, but said the wave was expected to be "much smaller" than the 2004 Asian tsunami which killed about 230,000 people in 11 countries.
Mr Weinstein said Tuesday's quake had only had 3% of the energy generated by the 2004 quake.Mr Weinstein said Tuesday's quake had only had 3% of the energy generated by the 2004 quake.
He said he expected the quake to be destructive in the areas closest to the epicentre, but said it "remains to be seen" how far any devastation would spread.He said he expected the quake to be destructive in the areas closest to the epicentre, but said it "remains to be seen" how far any devastation would spread.
By 2200 GMT, the tsunami warning had been cancelled.By 2200 GMT, the tsunami warning had been cancelled.
The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory - with a total population of about 250,000 people.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the quake? Have you seen any sign of a tsunami? Let us know using the form below:Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the quake? Have you seen any sign of a tsunami? Let us know using the form below:
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