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| Samoans commemorate tsunami dead | Samoans commemorate tsunami dead |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| People in Samoa and neighbouring Pacific islands have packed churches and community halls to remember those killed in last week's tsunami. | |
| The BBC's Phil Mercer, in the capital Apia, says the services are a vital part of the islands' healing process. | The BBC's Phil Mercer, in the capital Apia, says the services are a vital part of the islands' healing process. |
| However, he says it remains to be seen whether displaced residents will want to return to low-lying areas. | However, he says it remains to be seen whether displaced residents will want to return to low-lying areas. |
| More than 170 people died when the tsunami - triggered by an earthquake - hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. | More than 170 people died when the tsunami - triggered by an earthquake - hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. |
| At the Congregational Christian Church of Lalomanu, representatives of 10 families mourned 52 lost relatives. | At the Congregational Christian Church of Lalomanu, representatives of 10 families mourned 52 lost relatives. |
| Samoans survey aftermath | Samoans survey aftermath |
| In the Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral in Apia, Monsignor Ioane Vito urged the congregation to unite to overcome the disaster. | In the Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral in Apia, Monsignor Ioane Vito urged the congregation to unite to overcome the disaster. |
| "Don't dwell on it but rebuild our lives together as a community," he said. | "Don't dwell on it but rebuild our lives together as a community," he said. |
| Government minister Fiana Naomi said on Saturday that she expected about half of Samoa's victims to be buried in mass graves of up to 20 in a new cemetery in Apia. | |
| A memorial service would be held in a nearby sports stadium prior to the burials, she added. | A memorial service would be held in a nearby sports stadium prior to the burials, she added. |
| The tsunami struck following an 8.3-magnitude earthquake at 1748 GMT on Tuesday some 190km (120 miles) from Apia. | The tsunami struck following an 8.3-magnitude earthquake at 1748 GMT on Tuesday some 190km (120 miles) from Apia. |
| Villages were destroyed, homes flattened and cars lodged in treetops. | Villages were destroyed, homes flattened and cars lodged in treetops. |
| Our correspondent says Samoans have reacted swiftly to the disaster and many have begun rebuilding their homes, but others have remained on high ground, afraid to return to the coast. | Our correspondent says Samoans have reacted swiftly to the disaster and many have begun rebuilding their homes, but others have remained on high ground, afraid to return to the coast. |
| Australia has sent medical and search personnel to Samoa, and a New Zealand plane arrived on Saturday. | |
| The earthquake and resulting tsunami left 135 dead and eight missing in Samoa, 32 dead in American Samoa and nine dead in Tonga. |