Wednesday, September 30, 2009

BBC.co.uk | South Pacific tsunami resulting from 8.3 magnitude earthquake kills more than 100 people

President Obama has declared the tsunami in American Samoa a major disaster

A tsunami in the South Pacific has caused widespread destruction on the islands of Samoa and American Samoa.

The 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck at 1748 GMT on Tuesday 29 September

At least 77 people were reported dead in Samoa, more than 25 in American Samoa and at least six in Tonga, on the island of Niuatoputatu.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed.

New Zealand has sent a plane to Samoa to help search for survivors, and says it is ready to air-lift supplies.