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Tsunami: news and updatesCountry forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea | ||
Please use this thread to add your reports, observations and news from the ground. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible disaster. There may be a tsunami that has been generated from an 8.3 earthquake just off American Samoa. Edited by: VenessaP | ||
A TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH ARE IN EFFECT ... A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AMERICAN SAMOA / SAMOA / NIUE / WALLIS-FUTUNA / TOKELAU / A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR JOHNSTON IS. / NEW CALEDONIA / KOSRAE / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN... IT IS FOR THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME - 1748Z 29 SEP 2009 MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER LAT - LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH) EVALUATION SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. IT MAY HAVE FOR ALL AREAS - WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME Edited by: 5Waldos | 1 | |
A powerful quake, long and strong. And flooding and destruction from some Tsunami waves on the southern coasts of Upolu, on Manono and on the south-east coast of Savaii. 4 people dead reported so far but it might be worse. Disturbing calls from Salepaaga (FaoFao Beach) and I haven't heard anything from Lalomanu Beach yet. The Apia area is not affected as far as I can see. Power, water, phone are normal, traffic flows go back to normal as well after the town evacuation order was cancelled a few minutes ago. Fortunately people are aware now of Tsunami dangers - most of them fled straight away to higher grounds right after the quake. More news to come later in the day (9.42 am at present here in Samoa). | 2 | |
reasonably good news thus far then- lets hope that this is the worst of it. | 3 | |
Sinalei Resort and most likely Coconutsbeach Resort are evacuating after damages. | 4 | |
Hope everyone is high and dry and safe. | 5 | |
BBC is saying 3 deaths and 50 injuries. with more expected. But you are right- I wasn't trying to be hysterical but thought a word or two to the wise (well ok- that report is more than a few words) was called for. | 6 | |
Oh dear... I hope everyone is okay. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is reporting many deaths and damage from Samoa, but this is preliminary. Best to just wait for more information directly from the region. | 7 | |
.. TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH CANCELLATION ... | 8 | |
We just got the information on the Government radio (2AP) that apparently all Lalomanu village is completely destroyed and many people still missing there. I am very concerned about the guests and patrons at Lalomanu Beach (Taufua, Le Sitia) as well as for those in Saleapaga (FaoFao, former Boomerang Creek). All these locations are directly facing towards the epicentre of the quake and were most likely to be hit by the Tsunami first and strongest. So far there are 5 people reported dead in Independent Samoa (but still many missing) and 14 deaths reported from American Samoa. There is widespread destruction in coastal villages facing southern and south-east, including Manono. | 9 | |
I just saw this on the news. My thoughts are with those in the islands and hope they can weather this tough time. Thank you wksamoa for your updates. | 10 | |
14 deaths have been reported in American Samoa. "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." from Forbes.com | 11 | |
And that happened all but immediately unfortunately- before any warnings could be put out. | 12 | |
Worst fears turn out to be founded. Reporters currently in Lalomanu just told on the radio of a death toll being far over 100 with foreign tourists among them. There are no more beach fales - everything is gone and the whereabouts of many guests and village residents are still unknown; feared to be dead as well. Further on the South coast there are more casualties too and widespread damage. Iliili Resort in Tafatafa is gone too. Not much left of Sinalei either. | 13 | |
Ah shit. | 14 | |
And another one 6.2 just hit. Bad news and sad. | 15 | |
SINALEI REEF RESORT UPDATE 30/09/2009 Hi all The news from Samoa seems to be getting worse all the time. This message from Sinalei Resort was posted on TripAdvisor. "Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa would like to advise that all guests and staff on the resort at the time the Tsunami hit are safe and accounted for and guests have been relocated to other undamaged resorts in Upolu, Samoa. As you will appreciate, the news from Samoa is rather sketchy due to communication problems throughout the country. However, the pier and Ava I Toga Restaurant have been destroyed or severely damaged, along with the Presidential Suite and Honeymoon Fale. The Beachside Fales have sustained some damage while the Ocean View and Garden View Fales are all unharmed as is the Laumosooi Restaurant, Pool and Reception/Front Office areas. The Resort is closed until further notice and thank you for your understanding and support at this difficult stage." NZ's Deputy Prime Minister has announced that at least one NZer is believed to have been killed and more are expected. But it's just terrible for everyone involved. wksamoa - there is a report on TripAdvisor from an ex-pat Samoan currently in Samoa that the Upolu-Savai'i ferry is missing. I haven't read anything about this anywhere else. Do you know anything about it? | 16 | |
Just got word that Virgin Cove resort has suffered damage and lost their beachfront fale but no deaths or injuries. | 17 | |
The US has declared Samoa a disaster area- sounds like things were worse than we know yet. | 18 | |
There are reports coming through about damage and possible fatalities in the northern islands of Tonga. Details are sketchy until a plane is able to get there. | 19 | |
Just listening to a live radio interview with Apia and another tsunami warning has just been announced. You could hear all the sirens as police were trying to clear the roads and tell people to get out. | 20 | |
The ferry is not lost but it could not get to the wharf for some time at Mulifanua due to heavy swells. People had a scary time but it was solved somehow as it is not in the news anymore. Niuatoputapu in the northern Tonga Islands is reported to have suffered 10 deads and heavy damage. They apparently were even closer to the quake than Samoa. We are all completely distressed and worrying about friends, relatives and colleagues in Aleipata. I am sure that everyone here in Samoa is somehow close to at least one of the victims. | 21 | |
This news site is providing pretty good up to date information, but things seem to be changing by the minute. I haven't heard a further word about the missing ferry which was reported on TripAdvisor. Obviously there will be many rumours circulating locally. Hopefully this will have been one of them. | 22 | |
5waldos.....clean up your language! | 23 | |
wksamoa - just pressed post and then saw your report. Thank goodness the ferry was ok. | 24 | |
There is a new tsunami alert indeed even though we did not have any new quake. But maybe somewhere else farer away. Apia has been evacuated again - our house uphill in Siusega is full with relatives from downtown now. TV Samoa is just broadcasting footage from a trip along the south and east coast this afternoon. Unbelievable damage, especially in and around Lalomanu. Very hard to get through as the roads are badly damaged too. | 25 | |
Australian news sercvices reporting 63 dead. My condolences to all family and friends of the deceased. | 26 | |
5Waldos expressed my feelings exactly. My condolences to all affected. And on an island, that is everyone. | 27 | |
Australia and New Zealand are sending planes and disaster relief. Meanwhile, Australian TV has just reported a quake on Indonesia, and tsunami warning for the Indian Ocean. | 28 | |
Has anyone heard any reports on damage at Boomerang Beach Resort? | 29 | |
Samoa TV3 showed footage from a trip along the south and west coasts this afternoon. The former Boomerang Creek was shown there. All fales at the waterfront disappeared but the main building is still standing, with damage on the roof though. Further on, Lalomanu Beach, there is simply nothing left. Not a single building. No more Taufua Beach Fales, Le Sitia Resort - a plain field of mud and a few tree trunks is all to be seen. Three tourists confirmed dead there but others were shown alive. It is not clear who is missing in the resorts though as there are no records left to show who had been there. Some baggage with name tags but no people claiming it ... | 30 | |
Ooops, the link didn't want to attach itself .... see below http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/30/content_12136866.htm Edited by: Watsoff | 31 | |
Yikes, I'm sitting here with a fractured ankle but it's my brain that has disintegrated. My thoughts are with everyone in the islands (and post #31 was supposed to come after this one). Apparently there are 7 dead in Tonga (so far, anyway). | 32 | |
Images of what had been the most popular tourism area on Upolu | 33 | |
wksamoa: Do you have any info about Namu'a island and the family there? I really hope they are ok. What about in Savai'i the Manase and Falealupo villages? | 34 | |
Ofu and Olosega escaped with no damage or injuries. Terry has posted an interesting report on the Vaoto Lodge web site - http://www.vaotolodge.com/ | 35 | |
People on Namu'a Island were alright as they could climb uphill easily (they called on the cell phone for rescue afterwards). But I fear the worst for the family providing the transport there, right on the Upolu shoreline. Everything is gone there, completely wiped away. Savaii is not affected in any way. The quake came from the south east so everything on the western and northern side was sheltered by the island. There was some flooding in Salelologa but no damage. | 36 | |
How awful. We have such found memories of the beautiful, joyous kids playing on the beach, and looking out to Nu'utele Island. Rob | 37 | |
Today we saw a report from Manono which was obviously hit harder than we first thought. Apparently no lives lost but heavy damage. Sunset View Beach Fales is no more The Samoa Tourist Authority gives the following information: Tourist Accommodation Properties that were most affected include: Coconuts Beach Club, Resort & Spa As a result, these Resorts and Beach Fale Properties are NOT AVAILABLE for accommodation. A few properties in neighboring areas such as Virgin Cove and Le Vasa Resort on Upolu and Aganoa Surf Retreat in Savaii are still operating, despite facing some degree of damage. The rest of the Hotel/Beach Fale Accommodation Properties throughout the country are fully functional and continuing normal operations. | 38 | |
A list with names of Tsunami victims in Samoa has been released. | 39 | |
Pictures here: Beach Resorts Hardest Hit http://www.samoalivenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2596&Itemid=59 | 40 | |
At least there is new information now about the family at Taufua Beach Fales in Lalomanu and ways to support them. Sinalei Resort will re-open November 1st; the beaches in Lefaga (Matareva, Return to Paradise) are open again already! Edited by: wksamoa | 41 | |
I talked to Leota and Sau Leiataua at SUNSET VIEW BEACH FALES on MANONO ISLAND yesterday. Most aid attention is directed to the southern Upolu beaches (Lalomanu etc.). However other places like on Manono island that have been destroyed, too, are hardly being talked about. See also a related article on the Samoan Observer/Weekend Observer: At Sunset View Beach Fales the jetty plus the communal and kitchen area as well as the private house have been mostly destroyed. Only the three condominiums with bathroom up the hill have been left unharmed. It is Leota's intention to reopen his place within the next three months from now. Should anyone want to talk to the family or help, please contact them using this phone number: ++685-7596240 | 42 | |
Update from Virgin Cove Resort We are open as someone else earlier said. We had 5 Standard Fales and the Beach Villa destroyed. We were able to fix one of the Standard Fales and another Standard Fale is soon back. There is not too much damage that can be seen here, we have been able to clean up most of the disaster except for the Beach Villa. But it is located away from the main beach. So the main beach and surroundings are ok. As someone else said Sinaleii will open on 1 November. I have also heard that Coconuts will open early 2010. I have seen that Samoana in Salamumu next to us is open. Savaii Island is ok. I think everything there is open. I think it is only from Siumu (where Coconuts and Sinalei are) towards Lalomanu in the south east where there is no open accommodations at the moment. | 43 | |