Tsunami hits American Samoa

UPDATED:

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8.3 struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa around dawn Tuesday, sending terrified residents fleeing for higher ground as a tsunami swept ashore, flattening at least one village.

Samoan officials report an unspecified number of deaths and injuries.

Officials said they were checking reports of fatalities, including people being swept away from coastal communities, but communications and power outages were hampering rescue efforts.

The quake hit at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday (1:48 p.m. EDT) midway between the two island groups. In Apia, the Samoan capital, families reported shaking that lasted for up to three minutes.

The U.S. Geological Survey, 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.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center put the quake’s magnitude at 8.3 and issued a general alert for the South Pacific region from American Samoa to New Zealand. It said there were indications a tsunami wave could be “destructive” along some coastlines. Hawaii was put under a tsunami watch that later was downgraded to an advisory.

Amercan 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. Mr. Ilaoa could not confirm any deaths or injuries.

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

In Samoa, waves washed cars and houses from villages along the south coast into the sea “and out to the reef,” Radio Polynesia reporter Jonatui Lutifoga told New Zealand’s National Radio. There were reports that several people were missing, but police said they had no confirmation.

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,” Mr. Ansell told National Radio from a hill near 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 with thousands of people reportedly clustered on nearby hills.

“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.” Along with neighbors, they fled to high ground.

A 5-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.

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