American Samoa suffers brunt of earthquake and tsunami
Updated
In American Samoa, the earthquake hit as people were preparing for work and school, sparking panic and confusion. Then waves as high as two metres began washing in. The capital of American Samoa, Pago Pago was swamped; the road to the airport was destroyed and there've been widespread powercuts. At least 20 people were confirmed dead by Wednesday afternoon, but that number's expected to rise. The Governor, Togiola Tulafono is returning to the territory tonight from Hawaii on a US Coastguard aircraft. He's been in talks with US federal disaster authorities today.
Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Solo Ali-i Fa-alepo, director of the American Samoan Governor's office in Hawaii
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ALI'I FA'ALEPO: Right now most of the landline phones (have) been off since this morning, and there are a few cell phones that are working.
HILL: Now the Governor himself, he's in Honololulu at the moment has he been in touch with his government, are there emergency lines of communication with the government?
ALI'I FA'ALEPO: He's been in conversation with the Lieutenant Governor.
HILL: So how badly devastated have the coastal villages been in American Samoa?
ALI'I FA'ALEPO: Most of the villagers don't have houses now, most of the houses are damaged. In the village of Leone, the main road to the island is cut off to Tutuila.
HILL: How well are the emergency services in American Samoa coping with the disaster?
ALI'I FA'ALEPO: Well the local Homeland Security has been working with the people and they are trying to help the people.
HILL: So the Federal Management Authority are they going to be called in to help, are you going to get the US Government to assist?
ALI'I FA'ALEPO: Yes, yes, they've been contacting the Governor and they will be helping the people of American Samoa.
HILL: When disasters like this happen, obviously Samoans in Samoan communities around the world want to know what they can do to help, is there anything that Samoan communities in places like Australia, New Zealand and the US can do to help the situation?
ALI'I FA'ALEPO: We're working on the relief stuff to send to American Samoa, probably we're going to get some help from the military planes to send it now.
HILL: How well would you say the American Samoan government has handled this crisis?
ALI'I FA'ALEPO: Well it's pretty good, every office is working together, the local Homeland Security and Department of Public Safety which is the police and other departments are all working together to help the people, not only one department but they're all working together for people's safety and to move the families whose houses have been destroyed.
