IAEM Oceania

Source: Radio NZ Online

Samoa's disaster management office says more than 32,000 people have been affected in some way by the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck in the South Pacific on Wednesday.

The office puts the confirmed death at 83, though it expects that will rise. In neighbouring American Samoa 24 people have perished and seven people died in Tonga in the aftermath of the 8.0 magnitude quake.

Reports from various international aid agencies are available from this page on ReliefWeb.

The second Situation Report from OCHA is now publicly available. It was released at 2009-09-30 2000 Fiji time. The key details have been quoted below. A pdf is available for download.

Highlights/Key Priorities

• Death toll in Western Samoa has risen to 62 and is expected to rise
• Northern Tonga also affected with 6 confirmed dead. A State of Emergency has been declared for Niuatoputapu

The NZ Herald is maintaining a Google map of the Samoan earthquake/tsunami.

Source: Twitter, CourierMail

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/gallery/0,23816,5060888-17382-1,00.html

http://twitpic.com/joc4j - Pago Plaza with DDW on the first floor
http://twitpic.com/jobxk - GHC Reid Vaimalu Water Bottling Plant
http://twitpic.com/jobqy - Development Bank of American Samoa
http://twitpic.com/jobk5 - Devastation in Pago!
http://twitpic.com/jobgl - The old Soli and Mark's reduced to rubbles
http://twitpic.com/jobba - The Tool Shop
http://twitpic.com/job45 - An aiga bus and pickup truck in front of Sadie's Restaurant

Source: CNN

At least 17 deaths were confirmed, said Dr. Salamo Laumoli, director of health services of American Samoa. "Two or three villages have been badly damaged," he told CNN International. An American Samoa homeland security official working at the island's emergency operations center told CNN that the death toll is expected to rise to at least 20. The tsunami wave hit right in the middle of the harbor of Pogo Pogo, the capital, Cinta Brown said. Water damage and infrastructure damage was reported throughout the island, she said. The village of Leone was "sadly devastated," Brown said. "The wave came onshore and washed out people's homes."

Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister has indicated that there have been at least 42 fatalities in Samoa.

Samoa's deputy prime minister Misa Telefoni believes as many as 42 people may have died in this morning's earthquake and tsunami, and the south coast of Upolu has been devastated. "We've had very heavy damage all along the coast and most of the tourist resorts have been wiped out." Mr Telefoni told Stuff.co.nz that Samoa would be "most definitely" appealing for international aid as the country had suffered heavy infrastructure damage, both from the tsunami and the earthquake. He said a short time ago Samoa's main international airport was re-opened after having to be checked for earthquake damage.

Some photos in American Samoa and New Zealand are available in this Stuff article.

Source: Radio NZ News @ 1230 NZDT

Now confirmation of 14 fatalities across Samoa and Amercian Samoa, and unconfirmed reports of higher, at least 40.

The first Situation Report from OCHA is now publicly available. It was released at 2009-09-30 1130 Fiji time. The key details have been quoted below. A pdf is available for download.

Highlights/Key Priorities

An earthquake of magnitude 8.3 and depth 33 kms struck in the Samoa Islands Region, coordinates 15.3 SOUTH, 171.0 WEST at approximately 1748 GMT 29 SEP (5.48 am 30 Sept Fiji time).

This earthquake did generate a Tsunami. Forecast heights were between .7 and 1.57m.

Source: New Zealand Government

NZ ready to assist after Samoan earthquake, tsunami

New Zealand stands ready to assist Samoa and the wider Pacific region following the earthquake this morning and reports of a tsunami, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.

"New Zealand's diplomatic missions throughout the Pacific are in contact with local authorities to gather as much information as possible on the situation and how New Zealand may be able to assist," Mr McCully said.