Tsunami Devastates Samoan Islands

Apia, Samoa, is a scene of destruction after a tsunami hit the island nation of Samoa—and the US territory of American Samoa—on Wednesday. The tsunami appears to have been triggered by an earthquake. People could be seen walking through the rubble—with destroyed boats, houses and cars all around. A broken sign reading “Coconuts Beach Club Resort and Spa” stood in front of the site where the resort once stood. Officials from Samoa’s disaster management office estimate the death toll has reached more than 100, as rescue teams continue to look for the missing. Shortly after local radio tsunami warnings were issued, waves started crashing into the city of Pago Pago in American Samoa. US President Barack Obama has declared the situation in American Samoa a major disaster. A Pacific-wide tsunami watch was issued and there are reports of a small tsunami reaching New Zealand. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later cancelled its warning, but Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a local tsunami warning for Japan’s east coast.