Donations flow to American Samoa following deadly tsunami

Donations flow to American Samoa

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Close to $300,000 in financial donations have been received in American Samoa in the month following a tsunami that claimed 34 lives in the U.S. territory.

US: Moderate 5.9 earthquake shakes Tonga

NEW YORK — A moderate magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the South Pacific near Tonga on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. No tsunami watch was issued.

Pacific islanders panic and flee after 3 powerful earthquakes off Vanuatu form small tsunami

New quakes, small tsunami panic Pacific islanders

3 powerful earthquakes off Vanuatu form small tsunami, islanders flee but warnings canceled

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Thousands of panicked South Pacific islanders raced away from the coastline after three strong earthquakes rocked the region and generated a small tsunami Thursday, just over a week after a massive wave killed 178 people in the Samoas and Tonga.

Small tsunami forms after 3 powerful earthquakes strike off Vanuatu, warnings canceled

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Three powerful earthquakes rocked the South Pacific near the Vanuatu archipelago Thursday, generating a small tsunami just over a week after another, massive wave killed 178 people in the Samoas and Tonga.

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancels all tsunami warnings in the Pacific after 3 big quakes

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has canceled all tsunami warnings and watches throughout the Pacific.

Official: American Samoa coastal park, artifacts at visitors center damaged by tsunami

TAFUNA, American Samoa — The tsunami that rushed ashore last week at the National Park of American Samoa damaged the visitors center, washed away some artifacts inside and forced workers to relocate to a two-bedroom apartment, authorities said Monday.

Samoans flock to churches to mourn victims of South Pacific tsunami; mass burials prepared

LALOMANU, Samoa — Hundreds of survivors of the Samoas tsunami gathered at a church on high ground to mourn lost relatives, while pledging to rebuild their obliterated communities after a disaster that killed 177 people.

Major developments in Samoan tsunami aftermath

— THE DEAD: The number of dead rose to 170, including 129 in Samoa, 32 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga.

NFL players get briefing on situation in tsunami-stricken Samoas

WASHINGTON — NFL players of Samoan background got an update from the U.S. government and the Red Cross Friday on recovery efforts in the tsunami-stricken Samoas.

Military searches for bodies, brings aid to tsunami-stricken Samoas, death toll rises

LALOMANU, Samoa — The relief effort in the tsunami-stricken Samoas entered its fourth day Friday as medical teams gave tetanus shots and antibiotics to survivors with infected wounds and some frightened residents who fled to the hills after the disaster vowed never to return to their decimated seaside villages.

Samoans recall terror of waves as death toll in tsunami disaster reaches 150

APIA, Samoa — Samoans searched flattened homes and debris-filled swamps Thursday as more military ships and planes began arriving on the disaster-stricken Pacific islands after an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 150 people.

Tsunami death toll rises to 149 in Samoas and Tonga as search for missing continues

APIA, Samoa — Stunned Samoans combed through the sodden wreckage of their lives and told of the terror of being trapped underwater or flung inland by a tsunami that ravaged towns and killed at least 149 people in the South Pacific.

Food, medicine, temporary morgue sent to tsunami-stricken Samoas, death toll at 120

APIA, Samoa — Police searched a ghastly landscape of mud-swept streets, pulverized homes and bodies scattered in a swamp Wednesday as dazed survivors emerged from the muck of an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 120 in the South Pacific.

Developments around the world in Pacific tsumani

A look at some of the major developments related to the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the Samoas:

Dazed survivors emerge from muck and mire of earthquake in the Samoas as death toll reaches 119

APIA, Samoa — Police searched a ghastly landscape of mud-strewn streets, pulverized homes and bodies scattered in a swamp Wednesday as dazed survivors emerged from the muck and mire of an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 119 in the South Pacific.

Food, medicine, temporary morgue sent to tsunami-stricken Samoas, death toll at 119

APIA, Samoa — Police searched a ghastly landscape of mud-strewn streets, pulverized homes and bodies scattered in a swamp Wednesday as dazed survivors emerged from the muck and mire of an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 119 in the South Pacific.

Disaster official says death toll from tsunami hits 83 in Samoa, bringing total count to 119

APIA, Samoa — A senior Samoan disaster official says the nation’s death toll has risen to 83 following a massive tsunami. She said more bodies are expected to be recovered as searches resumed at dawn.

A look at Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, all affected by South Pacific earthquake, tsunami

Key facts on the Independent State of Samoa, the U.S. territory of American Samoa and Tonga:

Powerful earthquake in South Pacific hurls massive tsunami at Samoas, killing nearly 100

APIA, Samoa — Federal disaster officials say “tens of thousands” of people on American Samoa and Samoa will need their help after a lethal tsunami in the South Pacific.

Powerful earthquake triggers tsunami in the Samoas, killing 99 people and flattening villages

APIA, Samoa — A powerful earthquake in the South Pacific hurled a massive tsunami at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people out to sea, leaving at least 99 dead and dozens missing.

Nearly 100 killed in quake, ensuing tsunami at Samoa islands in South Pacific

APIA, Samoa — A powerful earthquake in the South Pacific hurled a massive tsunami at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people out to sea, leaving at least 99 dead and dozens missing.

Tongans hold funeral service at sea for 74 lost in ferry disaster

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Wailing mourners from Tonga dropped a marble plaque inscribed with 74 victims’ names into the ocean above the wreck of a ferry that sank this month in a disaster that shook the tiny South Pacific nation.

Tonga police warn may never identify all 93 victims of ferry sinking

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Tonga may have to abandon attempts to recover the bodies of 93 people believed to be trapped inside a ferry that sank off the coast of the South Pacific country because of the expense of the operation, officials said Thursday.

Wreck of capsized ferry found off Tonga coast, but no sign of 93 missing, presumed dead

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Searchers located the wreck Wednesday of a ferry that capsized off Tonga a week earlier and found no immediate signs of the 93 people on board who are still missing and presumed dead.

Wreck of capsized ferry in Tonga found; 93 still missing

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Searchers located the wreck Wednesday of a ferry that capsized off Tonga a week earlier and found no immediate signs of the 93 people on board who are still missing and presumed dead.

Tonga transport minister resigns in ferry sinking, 93 still missing and presumed dead

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — Tonga’s minister of transport resigned Tuesday, six days after a state-owned ferry sank, leaving 93 people missing in one of the South Pacific nation’s biggest tragedies.

Tonga ferry captain says he was pressured to sail ferry that sank, leaving 93 missing

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga —The captain of the Tongan ferry that sank leaving 93 missing and presumed dead said Monday he was pressured into sailing the vessel even though authorities knew the ship had problems.