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Tuesday's power outage on the east side results in cancellation of classes

Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga
fili@samoanews.com

 

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Six public schools on the east side of Tutuila affected by yesterday morning’s power outage, had their regular classes canceled, while staff and administrators reported to work as usual.

The power outage started around 4a.m and Samoa News understands that the outage was due to a tree that fell on the power lines in Alofau village. A large section of the east side was without power and residents who were caught off guard ended up getting ready for work and school in the dark.

American Samoa Power Authority acting executive director, Wallon Young didn’t immediately respond to Samoa News’ emailed questions on the actual cause of the power outage, how long it lasted, and the estimated number of customers who were affected.

Classes were canceled for all elementary public schools from Lauli’i to Tula, including Fagaitua High School. Some parents only learned of the closure during the broadcast of a bulletin notice on local radio stations, and others when they were dropping off their children at school.

Some students were loaded back onto the school buses and dropped off at home after word went out from the DOE main office about the cancellation of classes, according to information received by Samoa News.

Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga told Samoa News around 8a.m yesterday that the School Lunch staff “was able to procure dry cereal for the students' breakfast, but then we worried about lunch, even if we do sandwiches.” And the concern centered on whether the meat was safe for consumption, due to the power outage.

“School Lunch is conducting an inventory of their freezers on the Eastern side to make sure the meat and frozen goods are safe,” she said.