2009 Samoa earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Samoa earthquake was an 8.1 Mw
submarine
earthquake
that took place in the Samoan Islands
region at 06:48:11 local time on September 29, 2009 (17:48:11 UTC
, September 29). At a magnitude of 8.1, it was the largest earthquake of 2009.
A tsunami
was generated which caused substantial damage and loss of life in Samoa
, American Samoa
, and Tonga
. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
recorded a 3 inches (7.6 cm) rise in sea levels near the epicenter
, and New Zealand scientists determined that the waves measured 14 metres (45.9 ft) at their highest on the Samoan coast. The quake occurred on the outer rise
of the Kermadec-Tonga Subduction Zone
. This is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire
, where tectonic plates
in the Earth's lithosphere
meet and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
Countries affected by the tsunami
in the areas that were hit are American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga (Niuatoputapu) where more than 189 people were killed, especially children, most of them in Samoa.
Large waves with no major damage were reported on the coasts of Fiji
, the northern coast of New Zealand and Rarotonga
in the Cook Islands
. People took precautions in the low-lying atolls of Tokelau
and moved to higher ground. Niue
was reported as reasonably safe because it is high. There were no reports of high waves from Vanuatu
, Kiribati
, New Caledonia
and the Solomon Islands
.
, quoting a source at the National Park of American Samoa
, reported that "four tsunami waves, 15 foot high", and "reaching up to a mile (1.6 km) inland" hit American Samoa shortly after the earthquake. The water flowed inland about 100 yd (100 m) before receding, leaving some cars stuck in the mud. Damage to the National Park's
natural reserves and the destruction of its visitor center
and main offices have been reported, while only 20% of the park's 40 to 50 employees and volunteers had been found.
A beach village was reported to have been "wiped out", killing at least 14 people after the earthquake had sent residents fleeing for higher ground. Large numbers of American Samoans were said to have been left injured or homeless.
Confirmed death tolls rose to 22 people, with many people still missing in the villages of Leone
and Pago Pago.
A Radio New Zealand International
correspondent
reported that the center
of Pago Pago, the largest city in American Samoa, had sustained heavy damage in the tsunami, with its main street
flooded, cars overturned, and shoreline businesses damaged. He "also witnessed looting
in one of the stores".
American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono
was in Honolulu, Hawaii
for an ocean policy conference at the time of the tsunami struck. Tulafono was monitoring events in American Samoa, but was having difficulties reaching the territory because of communications failures. He told reporters that because of the tight knit communities and strong family bonds, "I don't think anybody is going to be spared this disaster." Tulafono departed Hawaii for American Samoa on a United States Coast Guard
supply flight from Honolulu on the evening of September 29.
Lieutenant Governor
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
announced that the earthquake had caused severe damage to American Samoa's electrical infrastructure
. The main electricity generator in Satala
had been damaged, which knocked out power from the central village of Faga'alu
across Tutuila
to the eastern village of Onenoa. The Satala electrical plant may be out of service for a month or more until repairs can be made, with the American Samoa Power Authority
(ASPA) stating that power will be out indefinitely. Electricity is also out on the islands of Ofu-Olosega
, in the Manu'a Islands Group, and a government plane has been sent to assess damage on Ofu.
The water system was also damaged in the earthquake, and the supply of fresh water
to eastern parts of American Samoa has been disrupted due to broken water lines. The water division of the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) announced that it will bring water in tanker trucks to affected villages. Residents were warned to conserve and boil water until safe drinking water supplies can be restored, which could take some time.
U.S. President Barack Obama
declared a major disaster
for its dependent territory, American Samoa, allowing federal funds to be used for rescues, life support, and public health and safety measures. Among the initial U.S. government response is a Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) logistics team and staff from the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), Coast Guard
, Federal Aviation Administration
, and Department of Defense
. Also, basic needs
and basic commodities, including electrical generators, medical supplies, and pharmaceutical drugs were sent out, and multiple planes are being prepared for more cargo and personnel, including FEMA, HHS, and Coast Guard staff and experts from the Environmental Protection Agency
, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
, and Red Cross
. The USS Ingraham (FFG-61)
was enroute to American Samoa
and was the first U.S. military asset to arrive and assist in the recovery efforts.
on the island of Upolu
and moving thousands of residents to higher ground. Journalist Cherelle Jackson reported that the city quickly emptied in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, "All the schools, workplaces everyone has walked up - it's like a ghost town."
Twenty villages on Upolu south side were reportedly destroyed, including Lepa
, the home of Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. In Lepa, only the church and the village's welcome sign remained standing following the tsunami. The hardest hit areas in Samoa appear to be Fagaloa Bay
on the east coast of Upolu
, Lalomanu
on the south east coast, and along the rest of the southern coast of the island, with one hospital in Apia reporting it had received 79 bodies. The village of Poutasi
on the south west coast of Upolu was reported with extensive damage in a TVNZ news item, along with its neighbouring Villages of Satalo and Salani being completely wiped out.
A mother at the Taufua Beach Fales in Lalomanu watched her three young children swept away by the tsunami. Elsewhere there were reports of landslides near Solosolo
and damage to plantations near Apia.
A number of tourist resorts are located on Upolu's south coast. These include Coconuts Beach Resort and Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa in the village of Siumu
. Both resorts published tsunami updates on their websites. The Sa'Moana Resort is in the village of Salamumu
.
The eastern part of the island remains without power or water supplies after the earthquake.
A Red Cross worker reported to Radio New Zealand
that waves 10 feet (3 m) high had flattened beachside resorts on Upolu, and that residents told him the tourist zone of Lalomanu had been crushed by a wall of water about 20 – high. The cliffs above Lalomanu were scoured out to a height of 10 –.
Power outages were reported, and phone lines were jammed. Samoan officials confirmed the runway at Faleolo International Airport
on Upolu was safe by early afternoon (September 30, 2009).
The Prime Minister of Samoa
, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, and his Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
were in Auckland
, New Zealand, at the time of the earthquake. Both political leaders immediately returned to Samoa. Prime Minister Malielegaoi lost two relatives in the tsunami, including the daughter of one of his nieces.
The Prime Minister made his first address to the nation, after the tsunami, on October 1.
The Government of Samoa estimates the damage at US$ 147.25 million.
On October 2, 2009, an estimated 3000 people were homeless and seeking refuge in shelters set up around the worst-affected villages. New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully
visited Apia to co-ordinate New Zealand's emergency relief effort. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key
arrived in Samoa on October 3 and visited some of the most damaged areas on Upolu including the villages of Poutasi and Lalolamu.
The Samoa government and the people of Samoa held a national funeral at Apia Park for tsunami victims on October 8, 2009 (Samoa local time).
Due to the tsunami daylight saving time in Samoa
was not introduced in 2009.
was in the northern part of the island kingdom where there have been deaths, injuries and extensive damage on the island of Niuatoputapu
, a flat coral island 500 km north of the main island Tongatapu
, and reportedly closest to the epicentre of the earthquake. The death toll on the island has risen to nine. A Tongan Government spokesman Alfred Soakai said 90 per cent of homes had been destroyed as well as serious damage to the hospital. An adviser to the Prime Minister, Lopeti Senituli, later said the amount of damage to buildings has been downgraded to 60%. There are three main villages on Niuatoputapu; Hihifo
and Falehau
, which were hit by three tidal waves, some 6m high, and the village of Vaipoa
, which had received less damage. A new school building remained standing and provided some shelter. The island is isolated with an approximate population of a 1,000 people. Approximately 192 families were left homeless and the homes of 143 additional families were damaged in the tsunami in the villages of Hihifo, Falehau and Vaipoa. 289 families lived in residences which escaped damage in the disaster.
Other reports outlined coastal damage from a 13 feet (4 m) wave on the islands. Other media had earlier reported 10 people killed in Tonga. Three people are missing and four sustained serious injuries. Earlier, a government plane sent to the island could not land due to tsunami damage at Niuatoputapu Airport
, which had been forced to close. Tonga's Acting Prime Minister Lord Tuita said the government is sending a second plane to Niuatoputapu, but that communication links have been damaged.
The government appealed for clothing and bedding donations for residents in Niuatoputapu.
Relief efforts undertaken by the Tongan Government and Red Cross focused on Niuatoputapu, with support from Australia, New Zealand and France. A United Nations
co-ordinator was scheduled to travel to Tonga to support early recovery initiatives in areas such as 'health, sanitation, water, infrastructure, psychological support, agriculture and fishing'.
There were no reports of any damage to Vavaʻu island group or to the main island of Tongatapu
, where the capital, Nukuʻalofa
, is located.
escaped much of the damage inflicted against other Polynesian countries and territories by the earthquake. Concern centered on the Marquesas Islands
, the northernmost archipelago in French Polynesia. Unlike the other islands of French Polynesia, the Marquesas have no protective coral reefs which would absorb the impact of a potential tsunami.
French High Commissioner Adolphe Colrat
warned residents of the Marquesas to seek shelter at an elevation
of at least 10 m (32.8 ft) above sea level. Residents across French Polynesia were advised to avoid valleys and bays, tie up watercraft and listen to Réseau France Outre-mer
(RFO) for further instruction.
In the Marquesas Islands, some bays were nearly emptied of their water before a wave crashed back in and refilled the area. Boats in the region immediately left port once the warning was issued. The cargo and passenger ship Aranui 3, which had been docked in Taiohae Bay on Nuku Hiva
in the Marquesas, the area most impacted by a small tsunami wave, immediately evacuated the bay for open water.
Outside of the Marquesas, the threat of a tsunami largely passed without much incidence. The government had initially feared a wave of approximately 90 cm (35 in), with the ability to strike all parts of the sprawling territory. Five small tsunami waves, measuring 25–70 cm (9.8–27.6 ) were recorded off the coast of Papeete
, Tahiti, between 11:10 a.m. and 12 noon local time on Tuesday. The first tsunami wave at 11:10 a.m. measured 25 cm (10 in), while the second recorded wave was measured at 35 cm (14 in) at 11:23 a.m. The waves gradually increased in size, with the fifth, and last wave, being recorded at 70 cm (28 in) tall at 12:03 p.m.
The Colombian Navy
training ship Gloria
, also left Papeete Harbor in Tahiti
once the warning was issued as a precaution. Residents of the Society Islands
, which include the tourist resort areas of Tahiti and Moorea
, were advised to move above 5 m (16 ft) above sea level, for safety.
High Commissioner Adolphe Colrat cancelled the tsunami red alert at 12:03 p.m. on Tuesday for all areas of French Polynesia except the Marquesas. The alert for the Marquesas Islands was extended 2:50 p.m. until the threat had passed.
French Polynesian President Oscar Temaru
wrote to the heads of American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga offering support following the tsunami, "On behalf of the people and the government of French Polynesia, I would like to convey our most sincere expression of condolence and solidarity in the wake of the Tsunami that just hit your people...We have, within the FRANZ
framework decided to send both human and material help. 1 doctor, 2 nurses and one logistics expert, all members of our emergency medical staff will carry a total of 600 kgs of medical material that will be dispatched locally by the FRANZ authorities." FRANZ stands for France, Australia and New Zealand, three large countries who traditionally provide aid in Oceania following natural disasters.
The Guardian
reported 189 deaths; 149 in Samoa, 31 American Samoa, 9 Tonga (October 2, 2009).
s to assess the damage and search for bodies. An RNZAF C-130 Hercules
with medical staff and supplies, makeshift morgues, stretchers, tents and food was sent on the 30th. A further 7 RNZAF and 2 Royal Australian Air Force
Hercules flights were made, and a RAAF C-17 Globemaster also provided airlift support to ferry relief supplies. These were distributed within the islands by RNZAF helicopters. Air New Zealand
arranged for larger Boeing 777
aircraft to carry in relief workers and evacuate tourists to Auckland
, and fly the Samoan Prime Minister back to his country. The New Zealand helicopter carrying ship HMNZS Canterbury was sent to Samoa (also offloading aid and personnel in Tonga). The New Zealand government also pledged over NZ$12 million for relief efforts.
The United States sent the US Navy frigate USS Ingraham
, two US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
aircraft from the 154th Wing
, and 90 members of the Hawaii National Guard
to American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts there.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Army Geospatial Center, prepared an emergency webpage for geological, hydrological and trafficability information for relief engineering and humanitarian aid. See that developing webpage of maps and scientific report information at: http://www.agc.army.mil/AmericanSamoa/index.html
Australia sent teams of paramedics, doctors, nurses and search and rescue specialists with essential supplies like tents and medicine.
Other aid came from concerned individuals and groups throughout the world, namely New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada.
, Tokelau, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu
, Kiribati, the Kermadec Islands, Fiji, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Palmyra Island, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, and Solomon Islands. Most of the warnings were called off once it was clear that the tsunami threat had passed. Officials in the Cook Islands, which hosted the 2009 Pacific Mini Games
, noted that the tsunami passed without any damage to the country.
A tsunami warning remained in effect for the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, as five main waves were expected to strike that archipelago
. Warnings also remained in Tuvalu, one of the lowest lying countries in the world.
Local radio stations in Tonga broadcast warnings that a tsunami was possible and that people should move away from coastal villages.
A tsunami watch was issued for islands farther from the epicenter, including Hawaii and Papua New Guinea, but not for California
, USA. Officials were determining whether the tsunami could reach Hawaii, the center said. It was possible that a strongly decreased wave could reach Hawaii.
A tsunami advisory was issued for coastal California and the San Francisco Bay Area
beginning at 9:00 PM local time as a precaution.
s with magnitude 5.5 or higher are listed. There were more than 40 total aftershocks with a magnitude greater than 5.0 in the 48 hours after the initial earthquake. Shocks with magnitude 6.0 or higher are highlighted in light blue. The main shock with moment magnitude 8.1 Mw is highlighted in dark blue.
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
submarine
Submarine earthquake
A submarine, undersea, or underwater earthquake is an earthquake that occurs underwater at the bottom of a body of water, especially an ocean. They are the leading cause of tsunamis...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
that took place in the Samoan Islands
Samoan Islands
The Samoan Islands or Samoa Islands is an archipelago covering in the central South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and the wider region of Oceania...
region at 06:48:11 local time on September 29, 2009 (17:48:11 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
, September 29). At a magnitude of 8.1, it was the largest earthquake of 2009.
A tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
was generated which caused substantial damage and loss of life in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, and Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is one of two tsunami warning centers that are operated by NOAA in the United States. Headquartered in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the PTWC is part of an international tsunami warning system program and serves as the operational center for TWS of the Pacific issuing...
recorded a 3 inches (7.6 cm) rise in sea levels near the epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
, and New Zealand scientists determined that the waves measured 14 metres (45.9 ft) at their highest on the Samoan coast. The quake occurred on the outer rise
Outer trench swell
The outer trench swell, outer trench high, or outer rise is a subtle ridge on the seafloor near an oceanic trench, where a descending plate begins to flex and fault in preparation for its descent into the mantle at a subduction zone...
of the Kermadec-Tonga Subduction Zone
Kermadec-Tonga Subduction Zone
The Kermadec-Tonga Subduction Zone is a convergent plate boundary which stretches from the North Island of New Zealand northward, and includes the Hikurangi Trough, the Kermadec Trench and the Tonga Trench...
. This is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire
Pacific Ring of Fire
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. In a horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements...
, where tectonic plates
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
in the Earth's lithosphere
Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. On Earth, it comprises the crust and the portion of the upper mantle that behaves elastically on time scales of thousands of years or greater.- Earth's lithosphere :...
meet and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
Countries affected by the tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
in the areas that were hit are American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga (Niuatoputapu) where more than 189 people were killed, especially children, most of them in Samoa.
Large waves with no major damage were reported on the coasts of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, the northern coast of New Zealand and Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. People took precautions in the low-lying atolls of Tokelau
Tokelau
Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
and moved to higher ground. Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
was reported as reasonably safe because it is high. There were no reports of high waves from Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
, Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
and the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
American Samoa
The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, quoting a source at the National Park of American Samoa
National Park of American Samoa
The National Park of American Samoa is a national park on the American territory of American Samoa, distributed across three separate islands: Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, and Ta‘ū. The park includes coral reefs and rain forest and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving, although the primary...
, reported that "four tsunami waves, 15 foot high", and "reaching up to a mile (1.6 km) inland" hit American Samoa shortly after the earthquake. The water flowed inland about 100 yd (100 m) before receding, leaving some cars stuck in the mud. Damage to the National Park's
National Park of American Samoa
The National Park of American Samoa is a national park on the American territory of American Samoa, distributed across three separate islands: Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, and Ta‘ū. The park includes coral reefs and rain forest and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving, although the primary...
natural reserves and the destruction of its visitor center
Visitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
and main offices have been reported, while only 20% of the park's 40 to 50 employees and volunteers had been found.
A beach village was reported to have been "wiped out", killing at least 14 people after the earthquake had sent residents fleeing for higher ground. Large numbers of American Samoans were said to have been left injured or homeless.
Confirmed death tolls rose to 22 people, with many people still missing in the villages of Leone
Leone, American Samoa
- Tsunami :Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0 suboceanic earthquake.- References :...
and Pago Pago.
A Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International , a division of Radio New Zealand, is the official international broadcasting station of New Zealand. It broadcasts a variety of news, current affairs and sports programmes in English and news in seven Pacific languages...
correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
reported that the center
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
of Pago Pago, the largest city in American Samoa, had sustained heavy damage in the tsunami, with its main street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
flooded, cars overturned, and shoreline businesses damaged. He "also witnessed looting
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
in one of the stores".
American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono
Togiola Tulafono
Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997....
was in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
for an ocean policy conference at the time of the tsunami struck. Tulafono was monitoring events in American Samoa, but was having difficulties reaching the territory because of communications failures. He told reporters that because of the tight knit communities and strong family bonds, "I don't think anybody is going to be spared this disaster." Tulafono departed Hawaii for American Samoa on a United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
supply flight from Honolulu on the evening of September 29.
Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
The government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :...
announced that the earthquake had caused severe damage to American Samoa's electrical infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
. The main electricity generator in Satala
Satala
Located in Turkey, the city of Satala , according to the ancient geographers, was situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, a little north of the Euphrates, where the road from Trapezus to Samosata crossed the boundary of the Roman Empire...
had been damaged, which knocked out power from the central village of Faga'alu
Faga'alu
Faga'alu is a village in central Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on the eastern shore of Pago Pago Harbor, to the south of Pago Pago. American Samoa's lone hospital is in Faga'alu....
across Tutuila
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
to the eastern village of Onenoa. The Satala electrical plant may be out of service for a month or more until repairs can be made, with the American Samoa Power Authority
American Samoa Power Authority
The American Samoa Power Authority is a government-run public utility company headquartered in American Samoa.The American Samoa Senate proposed the dissolution of the ASPA in 2008 due to financial difficulties. Under the bill, the ASPA would be dissolved and its assets and operations would be...
(ASPA) stating that power will be out indefinitely. Electricity is also out on the islands of Ofu-Olosega
Ofu-Olosega
Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manu‘a Group of the Samoan Islands—part of American Samoa. The twin islands, formed from shield volcanoes, have a combined length of 6km. They are geographic volcanic remnants separated by the narrow 137m wide Asaga strait, a natural...
, in the Manu'a Islands Group, and a government plane has been sent to assess damage on Ofu.
The water system was also damaged in the earthquake, and the supply of fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
to eastern parts of American Samoa has been disrupted due to broken water lines. The water division of the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) announced that it will bring water in tanker trucks to affected villages. Residents were warned to conserve and boil water until safe drinking water supplies can be restored, which could take some time.
U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
declared a major disaster
Disaster area
A disaster area is a region or a locale heavily damaged by either natural hazards, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, technological hazards including nuclear and radiation accidents, or sociological hazards like riots, terrorism or war. The population living there often...
for its dependent territory, American Samoa, allowing federal funds to be used for rescues, life support, and public health and safety measures. Among the initial U.S. government response is a Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) logistics team and staff from the Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
(HHS), Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, and Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. Also, basic needs
Basic needs
The basic needs approach is one of the major approaches to the measurement of absolute poverty. It attempts to define the absolute minimum resources necessary for long-term physical well-being, usually in terms of consumption goods. The poverty line is then defined as the amount of income...
and basic commodities, including electrical generators, medical supplies, and pharmaceutical drugs were sent out, and multiple planes are being prepared for more cargo and personnel, including FEMA, HHS, and Coast Guard staff and experts from the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, and Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. The USS Ingraham (FFG-61)
USS Ingraham (FFG-61)
The USS Ingraham , the last American to be built, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Captain Duncan Ingraham ....
was enroute to American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
and was the first U.S. military asset to arrive and assist in the recovery efforts.
Samoa
Samoa evacuated people from the entire city of Apia, the country's capital cityCapital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
on the island of Upolu
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
and moving thousands of residents to higher ground. Journalist Cherelle Jackson reported that the city quickly emptied in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, "All the schools, workplaces everyone has walked up - it's like a ghost town."
Twenty villages on Upolu south side were reportedly destroyed, including Lepa
Lepa
Lepa is a small village at the southeastern end of Upolu island in Samoa. The village has a population of 170 . It is also the name of an electoral faipule district, Lepa Electoral Constituency, which consists of 6 villages, including Lepa village, with a total population of 1,429...
, the home of Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. In Lepa, only the church and the village's welcome sign remained standing following the tsunami. The hardest hit areas in Samoa appear to be Fagaloa Bay
Fagaloa Bay
Fagaloa Bay is located on the north eastern coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The area is a significant region of conservation and culture. The bay is situated within the political district of Va'a-o-Fonoti....
on the east coast of Upolu
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
, Lalomanu
Lalomanu
Lalomanu is a village on the east coast of Upolu island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Aleipata Itupa i Luga which is within the larger political district of Atua....
on the south east coast, and along the rest of the southern coast of the island, with one hospital in Apia reporting it had received 79 bodies. The village of Poutasi
Poutasi
Poutasi is a village on the south east coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 379 .The village is part of Falealili Electoral Constituency in the larger political district of Atua....
on the south west coast of Upolu was reported with extensive damage in a TVNZ news item, along with its neighbouring Villages of Satalo and Salani being completely wiped out.
A mother at the Taufua Beach Fales in Lalomanu watched her three young children swept away by the tsunami. Elsewhere there were reports of landslides near Solosolo
Solosolo
Solosolo is a village on the northeast coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village is in the political district of Atua and is one of the prominent settlements in the area with the largest population in its electoral constituency of Anoama'a West.-Geography:...
and damage to plantations near Apia.
A number of tourist resorts are located on Upolu's south coast. These include Coconuts Beach Resort and Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa in the village of Siumu
Siumu
Siumu is a village on the central south coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 1,092 .There is also a sub-village Siumu Uta which has a population of 206 .-Siumu Electoral Constituency:...
. Both resorts published tsunami updates on their websites. The Sa'Moana Resort is in the village of Salamumu
Salamumu
Salamumu is a village on the south west coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village has two settlements, Salamumu Uta and Salamumu Tai ....
.
The eastern part of the island remains without power or water supplies after the earthquake.
A Red Cross worker reported to Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
that waves 10 feet (3 m) high had flattened beachside resorts on Upolu, and that residents told him the tourist zone of Lalomanu had been crushed by a wall of water about 20 – high. The cliffs above Lalomanu were scoured out to a height of 10 –.
Power outages were reported, and phone lines were jammed. Samoan officials confirmed the runway at Faleolo International Airport
Faleolo International Airport
Faleolo International Airport is an airport located west of Apia, the capital of Samoa.Until 1984, Faleolo could not accommodate jets larger than a Boeing 737...
on Upolu was safe by early afternoon (September 30, 2009).
The Prime Minister of Samoa
Prime Minister of Samoa
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Samoa from the establishment of that office in 1875 until the present day.-List of Prime Ministers of Samoa :-See also:*Samoa**Politics of Samoa...
, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, and his Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
Misa Telefoni Retzlaff
Misa Telefoni Retzlaff is a Samoan Cabinet Minister. He is currently Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party....
were in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, at the time of the earthquake. Both political leaders immediately returned to Samoa. Prime Minister Malielegaoi lost two relatives in the tsunami, including the daughter of one of his nieces.
The Prime Minister made his first address to the nation, after the tsunami, on October 1.
The Government of Samoa estimates the damage at US$ 147.25 million.
On October 2, 2009, an estimated 3000 people were homeless and seeking refuge in shelters set up around the worst-affected villages. New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
visited Apia to co-ordinate New Zealand's emergency relief effort. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
arrived in Samoa on October 3 and visited some of the most damaged areas on Upolu including the villages of Poutasi and Lalolamu.
The Samoa government and the people of Samoa held a national funeral at Apia Park for tsunami victims on October 8, 2009 (Samoa local time).
Due to the tsunami daylight saving time in Samoa
Daylight saving time in Samoa
Samoa observes daylight saving time since 2010. During DST the observed time will change from UTC-11:00 to UTC-10:00. Due to the 2009 Samoa tsunami the planned introduction in 2009 was not carried out. , ....
was not introduced in 2009.
Tonga
The main impact in TongaTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
was in the northern part of the island kingdom where there have been deaths, injuries and extensive damage on the island of Niuatoputapu
Niuatoputapu
For the 2009 tsunami, see the main article: 2009 Samoa tsunami.Niuatoputapu is an island in the island nation of Tonga, Pacific Ocean. Its name means sacred island. Older European names for the island are Traitors island or Keppel island.Niuatoputapu is located in the north of the country,...
, a flat coral island 500 km north of the main island Tongatapu
Tongatapu
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
, and reportedly closest to the epicentre of the earthquake. The death toll on the island has risen to nine. A Tongan Government spokesman Alfred Soakai said 90 per cent of homes had been destroyed as well as serious damage to the hospital. An adviser to the Prime Minister, Lopeti Senituli, later said the amount of damage to buildings has been downgraded to 60%. There are three main villages on Niuatoputapu; Hihifo
Hihifo
Hihifo is the main village on the island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga.Hihifo is situated on the west side of Niuatoputapu and is the main centre for public and government facilities for the island residents, with a post office and police station.The other two villages on Niuatoputapu are Falehau and...
and Falehau
Falehau
Falehau is a village on the island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga.The other two villages on Niuatoputapu are Vaipoa and Hihifo, the main village on the island.Falehau was extensively damaged in the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami....
, which were hit by three tidal waves, some 6m high, and the village of Vaipoa
Vaipoa
Vaipoa is one of three villages on the island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga.The other two villages on Niuatoputapu are Falehau and Hihifo, the main village on the island....
, which had received less damage. A new school building remained standing and provided some shelter. The island is isolated with an approximate population of a 1,000 people. Approximately 192 families were left homeless and the homes of 143 additional families were damaged in the tsunami in the villages of Hihifo, Falehau and Vaipoa. 289 families lived in residences which escaped damage in the disaster.
Other reports outlined coastal damage from a 13 feet (4 m) wave on the islands. Other media had earlier reported 10 people killed in Tonga. Three people are missing and four sustained serious injuries. Earlier, a government plane sent to the island could not land due to tsunami damage at Niuatoputapu Airport
Niuatoputapu Airport
Niuatoputapu Airport , also known as Kuini Lavinia Airport, is an airport in Niuatoputapu, Tonga.Damage to the airport from the 2009 Samoa earthquake and ensuing tsunami caused it to be temporarily closed following the disaster...
, which had been forced to close. Tonga's Acting Prime Minister Lord Tuita said the government is sending a second plane to Niuatoputapu, but that communication links have been damaged.
The government appealed for clothing and bedding donations for residents in Niuatoputapu.
Relief efforts undertaken by the Tongan Government and Red Cross focused on Niuatoputapu, with support from Australia, New Zealand and France. A United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
co-ordinator was scheduled to travel to Tonga to support early recovery initiatives in areas such as 'health, sanitation, water, infrastructure, psychological support, agriculture and fishing'.
There were no reports of any damage to Vavaʻu island group or to the main island of Tongatapu
Tongatapu
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
, where the capital, Nukuʻalofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
, is located.
French Polynesia
French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
escaped much of the damage inflicted against other Polynesian countries and territories by the earthquake. Concern centered on the Marquesas Islands
Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...
, the northernmost archipelago in French Polynesia. Unlike the other islands of French Polynesia, the Marquesas have no protective coral reefs which would absorb the impact of a potential tsunami.
French High Commissioner Adolphe Colrat
Adolphe Colrat
Adolphe Colrat is a French civil servant and the current French High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia since 2008. He succeeded Anne Boquet in the post.-Early life :...
warned residents of the Marquesas to seek shelter at an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of at least 10 m (32.8 ft) above sea level. Residents across French Polynesia were advised to avoid valleys and bays, tie up watercraft and listen to Réseau France Outre-mer
Réseau France Outre-mer
Réseau Outre-Mer 1ère or Outre-Mer 1ère , is a network of radio and television stations operating in France's overseas departments and territories around the world.The Outre-Mer 1ère network includes:...
(RFO) for further instruction.
In the Marquesas Islands, some bays were nearly emptied of their water before a wave crashed back in and refilled the area. Boats in the region immediately left port once the warning was issued. The cargo and passenger ship Aranui 3, which had been docked in Taiohae Bay on Nuku Hiva
Nuku Hiva
Nuku Hiva is the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It was formerly also known as Île Marchand and Madison Island....
in the Marquesas, the area most impacted by a small tsunami wave, immediately evacuated the bay for open water.
Outside of the Marquesas, the threat of a tsunami largely passed without much incidence. The government had initially feared a wave of approximately 90 cm (35 in), with the ability to strike all parts of the sprawling territory. Five small tsunami waves, measuring 25–70 cm (9.8–27.6 ) were recorded off the coast of Papeete
Papeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
, Tahiti, between 11:10 a.m. and 12 noon local time on Tuesday. The first tsunami wave at 11:10 a.m. measured 25 cm (10 in), while the second recorded wave was measured at 35 cm (14 in) at 11:23 a.m. The waves gradually increased in size, with the fifth, and last wave, being recorded at 70 cm (28 in) tall at 12:03 p.m.
The Colombian Navy
Colombian National Armada
The Colombian Navy , also known as the "Armada Nacional" or just the "Armada" in Spanish, is the naval branch of the military forces of Colombia....
training ship Gloria
ARC Gloria
The ARC Gloria is a training ship and official flagship of the Colombian Navy."ARC" stands for "Armada Nacional de la República de Colombia."- History :...
, also left Papeete Harbor in Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
once the warning was issued as a precaution. Residents of the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
, which include the tourist resort areas of Tahiti and Moorea
Moorea
Moʻorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17 km northwest of Tahiti. Its position is . Moʻorea means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian...
, were advised to move above 5 m (16 ft) above sea level, for safety.
High Commissioner Adolphe Colrat cancelled the tsunami red alert at 12:03 p.m. on Tuesday for all areas of French Polynesia except the Marquesas. The alert for the Marquesas Islands was extended 2:50 p.m. until the threat had passed.
French Polynesian President Oscar Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
wrote to the heads of American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga offering support following the tsunami, "On behalf of the people and the government of French Polynesia, I would like to convey our most sincere expression of condolence and solidarity in the wake of the Tsunami that just hit your people...We have, within the FRANZ
Franz
-Given name:* Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, of the House of Habsburg, heir to the thrones of Austria and Hungary, assassinated in 1914* Franz Adam, 19th century, German painter, chiefly of military subjects...
framework decided to send both human and material help. 1 doctor, 2 nurses and one logistics expert, all members of our emergency medical staff will carry a total of 600 kgs of medical material that will be dispatched locally by the FRANZ authorities." FRANZ stands for France, Australia and New Zealand, three large countries who traditionally provide aid in Oceania following natural disasters.
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported 189 deaths; 149 in Samoa, 31 American Samoa, 9 Tonga (October 2, 2009).
International aid
Governments
New Zealand dispatched RNZAF P-3 OrionP-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
s to assess the damage and search for bodies. An RNZAF C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
with medical staff and supplies, makeshift morgues, stretchers, tents and food was sent on the 30th. A further 7 RNZAF and 2 Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Hercules flights were made, and a RAAF C-17 Globemaster also provided airlift support to ferry relief supplies. These were distributed within the islands by RNZAF helicopters. Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
arranged for larger Boeing 777
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
aircraft to carry in relief workers and evacuate tourists to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, and fly the Samoan Prime Minister back to his country. The New Zealand helicopter carrying ship HMNZS Canterbury was sent to Samoa (also offloading aid and personnel in Tonga). The New Zealand government also pledged over NZ$12 million for relief efforts.
The United States sent the US Navy frigate USS Ingraham
USS Ingraham (FFG-61)
The USS Ingraham , the last American to be built, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Captain Duncan Ingraham ....
, two US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
aircraft from the 154th Wing
154th Wing
The United States Air Force 154th Wing is the operational component of the Hawaii Air National Guard. It is stationed at Hickam Field, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.-Overview:...
, and 90 members of the Hawaii National Guard
Hawaii National Guard
The Hawaii National Guard consists of the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Hawaii Air National Guard. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered...
to American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts there.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Army Geospatial Center, prepared an emergency webpage for geological, hydrological and trafficability information for relief engineering and humanitarian aid. See that developing webpage of maps and scientific report information at: http://www.agc.army.mil/AmericanSamoa/index.html
Australia sent teams of paramedics, doctors, nurses and search and rescue specialists with essential supplies like tents and medicine.
Other aid came from concerned individuals and groups throughout the world, namely New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada.
Aid agencies
- The European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
has announced it is setting up a scheme for a humanitarian fund with an initial amount of 150,000 Euros. The fund will be channelled to the International Red Cross through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) "to assist with primary emergency needs in Samoa depending upon the first 'on the ground' assessments." - OxfamOxfamOxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
International is ready to respond to the disaster with staff and supplies on standby. Oxfam's New Zealand branch has launched a fund for donations. - Samoa and American Samoa have local Red Cross offices. New Zealand Red CrossNew Zealand Red CrossThe New Zealand Red Cross was created by nurse Beth Charpentier in 1914 shortly after the beginning of World War I generally for the purpose of responding to natural disasters or man-made disasters and also helping out vulnerable or needy people both in New Zealand and abroad.The organization is...
humanitarian aid workers are also on stand-by to travel to Samoa, and has started a fund for donations. The Red Cross is building 76 ten foot by twenty foot single room homes and 23 twenty foot by twenty foot multi room homes in Nuiatoputapu to replace homes destroyed there by the tsunami. - Aid funds are also being organised by the Rotary Club of NZ and ANZ BankANZ BankThe Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited , commonly called ANZ, is the fourth largest bank in Australia, after the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation and the National Australia Bank. Australian operations make up the largest part of ANZ's business, with commercial and retail...
. - The United States said federal aid would be made available to combat the devastation. Craig FugateCraig FugateWilliam Craig Fugate was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009 to be the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He had been the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He was appointed director by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2001 and later re-appointed by Gov...
, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said FEMA sent an incident management assistance team and a planning and response team "to provide support and on the ground assessment" in along with assistance from the US Coast Guard. - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized humanitarian aid from members of the church in the USA, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga to be delivered to those in need. On Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, 12 LDS stake presidents asked church members on the radio to donate food, clothing, cooking equipment, pillows, blankets and other necessities, and LDS church buildings in American Samoa housed the displaced victims of the disaster.
- The Next of KinNext of KinNext of Kin could refer to;*Next of kin, a term used to describe blood relatives*Next of Kin , a 1995 to 1997 British sitcom with Penelope Keith*The Next of Kin, a 1942 British film often called Next of Kin...
Registry(NOKR) was a vital resource used for family reunification post the Tsunami, according to the Deputy Director of the Territorial Emergency Management Coordinating Office(TEMCO). - ADRAAdraAdra may refer to:places:*Adra, Spain – municipality in Almería , Andalusia*Adra, Purulia – town in the state of West Bengal, India*Adra, Syria – town approximately 40 km north of Damascus...
(Adventist Development and Relief Agency) has deployed a coordinator on the ground in Samoa to provide emergency management support to the response efforts. Mr Eager has taken initial aid with him, and by Friday October 2 had visited the devastated areas on the south coast of Upolu. He is coordinating ADRA's response with the Samoan Disaster Management Council and other responding agencies to compile findings and plan coordinated relief. ADRA has launched a Pacific Disaster Appeal in both Australia and New Zealand.
Emergency relief funds for donations
- The New Zealand Red Cross appeal raised donations amounting to almost NZ$3.5 million.
- Oxfam New Zealand set up a rapid response emergency fund at their website.
- Unicef (NZ)
- ADRAAdraAdra may refer to:places:*Adra, Spain – municipality in Almería , Andalusia*Adra, Purulia – town in the state of West Bengal, India*Adra, Syria – town approximately 40 km north of Damascus...
Australia has set up a Pacific Disasters Appeal donation website, and hotline (1800 242 372). - ADRAAdraAdra may refer to:places:*Adra, Spain – municipality in Almería , Andalusia*Adra, Purulia – town in the state of West Bengal, India*Adra, Syria – town approximately 40 km north of Damascus...
New Zealand has a donation website and call centre (0800 4 999 111).
Tsunami warnings
A tsunami warning was initially issued for American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Wallis and FutunaWallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands , is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Rotuma of Fiji to the west, the main part of Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast,...
, Tokelau, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
, Kiribati, the Kermadec Islands, Fiji, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Palmyra Island, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, and Solomon Islands. Most of the warnings were called off once it was clear that the tsunami threat had passed. Officials in the Cook Islands, which hosted the 2009 Pacific Mini Games
2009 Pacific Mini Games
The 2009 Pacific Mini Games was the 8th edition of the Games. They were held in the Cook Islands from September 21-October 2.-Participating countries:21 countries are schedule to participate at the 2009 Games: -Sports:...
, noted that the tsunami passed without any damage to the country.
A tsunami warning remained in effect for the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, as five main waves were expected to strike that archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
. Warnings also remained in Tuvalu, one of the lowest lying countries in the world.
Local radio stations in Tonga broadcast warnings that a tsunami was possible and that people should move away from coastal villages.
A tsunami watch was issued for islands farther from the epicenter, including Hawaii and Papua New Guinea, but not for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. Officials were determining whether the tsunami could reach Hawaii, the center said. It was possible that a strongly decreased wave could reach Hawaii.
A tsunami advisory was issued for coastal California and the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
beginning at 9:00 PM local time as a precaution.
List of aftershocks
Only aftershockAftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
s with magnitude 5.5 or higher are listed. There were more than 40 total aftershocks with a magnitude greater than 5.0 in the 48 hours after the initial earthquake. Shocks with magnitude 6.0 or higher are highlighted in light blue. The main shock with moment magnitude 8.1 Mw is highlighted in dark blue.
| Date (YYYY-MM-DD) | Time (UTC) | Latitude Latitude In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a... | Longitude Longitude Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda .... | Depth | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-09-29 | 17:48:11 | 15.558° S | 172.073° W | 18 km (11 mi) | 8.1 (Mw) |
| 2009-09-29 | 18:08:22 | 15.467° S | 172.092° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.6 (Mw) |
| 2009-09-29 | 18:19:36 | 15.952° S | 171.611° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.6 (Mw) |
| 2009-09-29 | 18:21:42 | 16.197° S | 173.069° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.8 (Mw) |
| 2009-09-29 | 23:11:51 | 15.565° S | 173.365° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.5 (Mw) |
| 2009-09-29 | 23:45:03 | 15.840° S | 172.531° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.9 (Mw) |
| 2009-10-01 | 06:13:30 | 15.116° S | 172.935° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.7 (Mw) |
| 2009-10-02 | 01:07:39 | 16.579° S | 173.274° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 6.1 (Mw) |
| 2009-10-14 | 18:00:22 | 14.968° S | 174.919° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 6.3 (Mw) |
| 2009-10-17 | 10:45:27 | 16.332° S | 171.964° W | 10 km (6 mi) | 5.9 (Mw) |
External links
- Deadly tsunami strikes in Pacific from BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
ongoing coverage - South Pacific: Tsunami - September 2009 from OCHAOchaOcha is a genus of moth in the family Lasiocampidae....
ReliefWebReliefWebReliefWeb is an on-line gateway to information on humanitarian emergencies and disasters. An independent vehicle of information, designed specifically to assist the international humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance, it provides information as events unfold, while...
ongoing coverage - Devastating Tsunami Strikes Samoa Islands from ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
AlertNet ongoing coverage - TV3 News - Full interview with Rosalia Me Fuimaono who lost 13 family members in the tsunami
- TV3 News - stories of survival and tragedy at Auckland airport as people return from Samoa
- The Hawaii Independent: Governor Tulafono says at least 24 killed from tsunami waves in American Samoa
- In pictures: Samoan Tsunami
- Associated Press video report & footage
- TVNZ David Tua loses aunty in tsunami
- TVNZ Samoans head home
- Youtube clip – Tsunami damage in American Samoa town
- Youtube clip – Water flows American Samoa
- Youtube clip – Samoan Tsunami Update
- Youtube clip – Water Drains out of Tutukaka Marina, Northland NZ
- Satellite images of tsunami damage in Samoa and American Samoa