Residents headed to higher ground in many areas of the main island of Tutuila, following yesterday’s powerful earthquake that struck in the early morning hours as children were arriving at school and adults were just getting to work. Some school officials went into a panic while some calmly instructed students to head to higher ground following the temblor.

There were also many reports of children instinctively running to higher ground following the quake and school buses driving students inland.

Late yesterday evening, emergency responders were still in search of some students who were let out of school after the earthquake.

Adults and children started driving up the road following the tremor that shook island homes for more than a minute, rattling dishes and scaring children and pets.

Communication lines were jammed with families and friends trying to reach one another, tears and fear in their eyes. Many off-islanders were still trying to get a hold of their loved ones late yesterday afternoon.

While most families were fortunate to have escaped the wrath of the tsunami, some were not so fortunate. There were about 30 people confirmed dead yesterday and families were still looking for their children and loved ones around 11 p.m. last night.

PAGO PAGO

News of death spread quickly through the islands via radio airwaves in the hours following the quake that registered 8.0 to 8.3 on the Richter scale with Pago Pago and Leone villages reported as the hardest hit.

There was a report of one woman’s life being claimed  at the Seagull store, one of many businesses along the shoreline destroyed by the tsunami and another woman whose home faced the harbor, near the Pago Way Service Station.

Hours after the tsunami hit, residents drove through Pago to have a firsthand look at the aftermath as government workers toiled through the dust, and the debris of ruined vehicles, homes and businesses and left behind in Pago Pago, by the merciless water.

LEONE

In Leone, several elderly residents’ lives were claimed in the early morning hours, one woman just finishing her chores and another person sadly drowning in his home, alone.

Reports out of the village say when the first wave hit, some people rushed around to help others but when the second wave hit, a larger wave, many people ran for their lives.

Emergency workers, some with the Department of Public Works were spotted at the Leone/Auma bridge, using a back hoe to transport one of the injured over the section that broke.

AOLOAU/AASU

In the western area, some residents from Faleniu, Fogagogo, Ottoville and lower lying villages such as Tafuna, Leone, Mapusaga Fou, Pava’ia’i and Tafeta slowed traffic as they drove their families uphill to safety in the villages of Aoloau and Aasu and other villages along the incline. It proved to be a popular evacuation spot yesterday for the western side.

Truckloads and buses filled with children in school uniforms were driven to Aoloau and Aasu where families waited out the tsunami warning, finding shade in the cool trees, watching the ocean and awaiting word of when it was safe to head home to lower ground.

Families in Aoloau and Aasu opened their homes, driveways and yards to families who flocked to their villages looking for a space to park in safety. After the warning was called off close to 12 p.m, evacuees descended the hill, to check on their homes and loved ones who were previously missing, while some went to work. Aumaga members helped direct traffic in the area.

Rev. Tavita Tolo and faletua Mrs. Tolo welcomed residents from Mapusaga Fou and Fogagogo to their home, providing them with lunch and drinks during the difficult waiting period.

MALAELOA

Reports out of Malaeloa said children, who previously participated in National Preparedness Month activities, namely tsunami drills, at Leone Midkiff immediately sought refuge in the mountains behind Malaeloa.

Residents from the area told Samoa News groups of unattended children ran up the mountain not knowing where their parents were at the time.

Aumaga members blocked some roadways instructing residents to park their cars and head uphill.

UTULEI

In Utulei, there were reports of a crowded tramway, government employees in the area and village residents, moving uphill after the earthquake. Cement posts were overturned, tables and other items carried by the large wave, across the street from the Pago Pago Yacht Club.

Some employees at the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building were stopped from leaving the village, police directing motorists uphill to higher ground.

There was some damage to government buildings in the area.

FAGA’ALU

In Faga’alu, there were reports of many residents making U-turns in the street

After the initial wave hit, while villagers assisted hospital staff in moving patients to higher ground.

Several dialysis patients and women in labor were moved uphill as well to the incline behind the hospital.

A woman said people were running scared with their children up the road to high ground, aiming for behind the hospital.

Reports from Matafao Elementary School said some teachers shepherded frightened students to Falepule Lodge when the first wave hit. One woman said teachers were screaming at children to run up the hill and they did.

ALAO/AUASI

Several homes were destroyed out in Auasi and Alao far out in the eastern side of the island.

POLOA

Far out west in Poloa, one woman’s life was claimed when her home was washed out with the big wave.