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| Samoa wave towered over buildings | Samoa wave towered over buildings |
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| The tsunami that killed more than 200 people in the Samoan islands and Tonga in September was twice as tall as the buildings it hit, scientists say. | The tsunami that killed more than 200 people in the Samoan islands and Tonga in September was twice as tall as the buildings it hit, scientists say. |
| The wall of water towered 14m (46ft) and included as many as three major waves, researchers have found. | |
| The waves were caused by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake under the sea. | The waves were caused by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake under the sea. |
| New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has been studying the tsunami to help guard against future events. | New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has been studying the tsunami to help guard against future events. |
| A team of scientists under NIWA spent two weeks in the field and found the second of two to three significant waves was said by witnesses to be larger. | A team of scientists under NIWA spent two weeks in the field and found the second of two to three significant waves was said by witnesses to be larger. |
| The delay between the earthquake and the arrival of the first wave was about 10 minutes in Samoa and 20 minutes in American Samoa, the NIWA scientists said. | The delay between the earthquake and the arrival of the first wave was about 10 minutes in Samoa and 20 minutes in American Samoa, the NIWA scientists said. |
| Mangrove marvel | Mangrove marvel |
| It was also very clear that plants, trees, and mangroves reduced flow speeds and water depths over land - leading to greater chances of human survival and lower levels of building damage. | It was also very clear that plants, trees, and mangroves reduced flow speeds and water depths over land - leading to greater chances of human survival and lower levels of building damage. |
| "The same thing will be true in New Zealand as in Samoa: solidly constructed buildings which are appropriately located will survive much better than flimsy buildings right on the beach," said Dr Stefan Reese of NIWA. | "The same thing will be true in New Zealand as in Samoa: solidly constructed buildings which are appropriately located will survive much better than flimsy buildings right on the beach," said Dr Stefan Reese of NIWA. |
| "It's also clear that practices such as flattening sand dunes or removing beach vegetation would increase the potential for tsunami damage." | "It's also clear that practices such as flattening sand dunes or removing beach vegetation would increase the potential for tsunami damage." |
| The massive waves that struck Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga totally destroyed traditional wooden buildings, many of them single-storey, along the coast. | The massive waves that struck Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga totally destroyed traditional wooden buildings, many of them single-storey, along the coast. |
| Animated guide: Tsunamis The Pacific 'Ring of Fire' | Animated guide: Tsunamis The Pacific 'Ring of Fire' |
| The scientists measured the watermarks on buildings and trees to help confirm the height of the waves, which surged as far as 700 metres (765 yards) inland in some areas. | The scientists measured the watermarks on buildings and trees to help confirm the height of the waves, which surged as far as 700 metres (765 yards) inland in some areas. |
| They also found that the Samoan quake created a sea floor fault up to 300km (190 miles) long and 7m (23ft) deep. | |
| NIWA's Dr Shona van Zijll de Jong said that the tsunami may have permanently changed residential patterns in Samoa. | NIWA's Dr Shona van Zijll de Jong said that the tsunami may have permanently changed residential patterns in Samoa. |
| "Many people are scared of the sea, and people are staying away from devastated villages," Dr van Zijll de Jong said. | "Many people are scared of the sea, and people are staying away from devastated villages," Dr van Zijll de Jong said. |
| "The sea has been a source of livelihood and identity for generations. The violence of the tsunami really shook them. | "The sea has been a source of livelihood and identity for generations. The violence of the tsunami really shook them. |
| "Their sense of personal security and economic well-being is deeply shaken." | "Their sense of personal security and economic well-being is deeply shaken." |
| The 29 September tsunami killed 34 people in American Samoa, 183 in Samoa and nine in Tonga. | The 29 September tsunami killed 34 people in American Samoa, 183 in Samoa and nine in Tonga. |
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| The BBC's Phil Mercer shows the extent of the tsunami devastation | The BBC's Phil Mercer shows the extent of the tsunami devastation |