Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Post-Quake Tsunami Kills 34 in Samoa

8.3-magnitude temblor rattles American Samoa

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 6:34 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – An 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck the area around American Samoa today, generating a tsunami that killed as many as 34 in the US territory and adjacent Samoa, an independent state. The waves at Pago Pago were 5.1 feet above normal—smaller than originally feared— but tsunami warnings went up briefly throughout the South Pacific, with a watch in effect as far away as Hawaii. Widespread damage included the flattening of one entire village.

"I can confirm there is damage, I can confirm there are deaths and I can confirm there are casualties," a police rep in Samoa told Reuters.

A boat is seen on the edge of the main highway in the village of Fagatogo, in American Samoa, today.
A boat is seen on the edge of the main highway in the village of Fagatogo, in American Samoa, today.   (AP Photo)
RAISES magnitude of earthquake; map locates American Samoa, which was hit by a powerful earthquake
RAISES magnitude of earthquake; map locates American Samoa, which was hit by a powerful earthquake
Lila Livingston, an office administrator at the American Samoa Government office in Honolulu, takes calls from Samoans looking for information on today's earthquake.
Lila Livingston, an office administrator at the American Samoa Government office in Honolulu, takes calls from Samoans looking for information on today's earthquake.   (AP Photo)
A main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo, American Samoa, is flooded by water today.
A main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo, American Samoa, is flooded by water today.   (AP Photo)
A car is seen pushed up against a bridge after sea water from the tsunami filled a small stream in the village of Fagatogo, American Samoa, today.
A car is seen pushed up against a bridge after sea water from the tsunami filled a small stream in the village of Fagatogo, American Samoa, today.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
JoeQ
Sep 30, 2009 4:03 AM CDT
To see if a tsunami is possible where you are, all you have to do is go to earthquake.usgs.gov, click on the earthquake in question, then click on the USGS Centroid Moment Tensor solution, then do a little simple cartesian tensor analysis, look for components orthogonal to the local Earth normal force, and VOILA! you know whether a tsunami is likely. When it arrives at your locale is a simple calculation of the speed of sound in water from the epicenter to your location. Nothing could be simpler!
SalParadise
Sep 29, 2009 11:53 AM CDT
At the very least 20 dead, hundreds injured and thousands and thousands displaced. Something makes me think everybody isn't alright this time.
Jojo
Sep 29, 2009 10:07 AM CDT
How do you know the warning wasn't activated? Even with the warning being issued there are going to be deaths. Stop being an obnoxious instigator.

 
South Pacific • tsunami • Pacific Ocean • New Zealand • Hawaii • Fiji • earthquake • Tonga • Samoa • American Samoa • Pago Pago • Cook Islands

More Newser Stories

Drought Hits Crisis Level in Pacific Islands

South Pacific Avoids Tsunami After Big Earthquakes

Fresh Quake Rattles Tonga

Indonesia Quake Toll Passes 1,000

Samoa Tsunami Toll Hits 150
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne