Tsunami warning canceled, no significant waves in Samoa Islands Wednesday October 7, 2009
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com

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The tsunami warning for American Samoa was canceled around 1:30 p.m. local time allowing workers in shoreline areas to return to their offices as well as residents of several villages.

Many had moved to higher ground following the watch and then the warning. Police with bullhorns went up and down the highway for villages along the shore announcing the cancellation of the tsunami.

The cancellations of the two alerts, which were issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawai'i, came almost two hours following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake off Vanuatu. The center says the quake generated a tiny tsunami.


 


 
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Comments to this story (10)
Alofaaga mo Samoa  wrote:
09 Oct 2009 05:09 AM
Thank you Samoa News for posting my post. It would be interesting for the 'responsible folks' to get a straight answer back on their reports; what happened on the event of last week's 8.3 earthquake magnitude really shouldn't be overlooked or undermined as perhaps i couldn't imagine folks sleeping well knowing what they've neglected has cost many families a lot of grief and sorrow; they ought to 'fess-up' on their 'fa'atamala' and either rethink their 'work priorities' or bring-in reliable people who truly understand the nature and effects of the slightest movement in the earth's fault that would lead to triggering such an impacted tsunami that lead to the loss of many lives. It shouldn't take the aftermath of a tsunami to figure these things out when people are relying on folks who should've already been experts in these areas to monitor the slightest effect of the earth's movement to give ample time to forewarn people. I'd suspect there were 'experts' perhaps that were either hesitant to believe such a thing could end-up in this manner but whether they had the vaguest of clues or none whatsoever in what they may had already known of the earthquake's motion; it is simply unexcusable not to report these matters immediately so the rest of the world isn't begging their motion to 'MOVE-IT!!' Indeed we'd like to believe there are good-hearted experts doing the best they can, and I'm certain no doubt they are, but pppplllease, know your position is very very critical as you've got not just your 'boss' to report to but many lives are dependent on your job; no doubt again you must be aware of that as well. Fa'afetai tele lava mo le avanoa. God bless our homeland and our loving people of Samoa; soifua.
Alofaaga mo Samoa  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 08:50 PM
What a relief to receive a timely warning on this 7.8 earthquake magnitude resulting in no harm; but what ever happened to the 8.0 magnitude closely matching this 7.8 alarm call? Seems there was enough time to signal a warning on the lesser magnitude than the bigger one. Rather strange these two earthquakes were at such close calls yet how could there not be a timelier warning given the higher magnitude of the first one? Can someone expert at this please explain? And yes, not to ignore the hard efforts of the experts in this field for i truly commend your hard work; and many many thanks also to Samoa News for their ongoing coverage on what’s happening from home; fa’afetai tele lava. But I suppose as the aftermath events unfold from this disastrous trial, it would be nice to seek some clarification perhaps as to why and/or how these occurrences either can be avoided and if not fixed so as to not be repeated. Fa’afetai tele lava mo le avanoa.
Natural Roots  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 06:06 PM
I applaud you Samoanews for your continuous coverage, you must be low on manning and are working around the clock to cover most of the villages on our island that were highly affected by mother nature in full effect. Our people needs to understand that you are doing the best you can. Sad to say, when reading through most of the comments on your coverage, it seems that most of our people have been distant from families and loved ones for quite some time, since they seemed to not keep up with the current affairs in villages and families in reference to their desperate efforts in trying to contact relatives and loved ones on here. Samoa e, e lele le toloa ae maau lava i le vaivai. Po'o fea lava o le lalolagi o lo'o e aumau ai, e leai lava se fiafia e sili atu i lo'o aiga, ekalesia, nu'u ma lo tatou atunu'u. Once again, thank you Samoanews! Fa'amanuia le Atua ia te outou i galuega o lo'o feagai ai.
KOMISI AND VAIAURO FAULAFO  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 12:53 PM
PLEASE LET US KNOW ASAP IF THE TSUNAMI IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN PLEASE, PRAYERS GOES OUT TO FAMILIES IN AMERICAN SAMOA AND WESTERN SAMOA, ESP FAMILIES IN LAULI'I, SATALA, MANU'A, AND FAGAMALO.....GOD BLESS AMERICAN SAMOA....
TB  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 12:48 PM
Tried to call families phone line are jammed could'nt get through. Got the news flashed here in Australia. Please God not another one I'm praying and panicked at the same time.Thank you Samoa News. I go to work and have my laptop with me everywhere to keep intouch. Lets all pray for all our ppls safety...My love to everyone....Trinne
Deshara Selesitino  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 12:43 PM
SAMOA GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!! SAMOA MUAMUA LE ATUA!!! VIIA O IA I TAIMI FAIGATA VIIA O IA I TAIMI E SAOGALEMU AI MEA UMA.
Vaitu'utu'u T. Lutu  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 12:33 PM
OH DEAR LORD, Please protect my island & people. May there be NO MORE TSUNAMI Lord! Please, work your miracles God and calm mother nature to spare the lives of everybody. We give you all the praise & glory for you are the only ONE that can stop this disaster form happening. GOD BLESS AMERICAN SAMOA & ALL THOSE ISLANDS UNDER TSUNAMI WATCH!!
Anonymous  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 12:31 PM
God be with my samoa people........
Captain J. C. Anderson  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 05:02 AM
We extend our sincere sympathies to all especially the families and friends of lost victims. All of us that sail the waters of the big wide Pacific love her for her generousity and tremble at her fury. Our prayers are with you all. Is there an estimate of the damage to the ports harbor facilities? Is it possible to bring a ship or barge into the inner harbor or a dock?
Name The Names for Gods Sake  wrote:
07 Oct 2009 04:35 AM
Why have ASG not named the Dead? These People have names? Name them so we can grieve correctly. They have names so we can memorialize them properly. Raise funds to Give them A Memorial "SO WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS EVENT". The Lesson learned is to "BE PREPARE", or it will cost lives. The Children have names!-- the child in Leone was a child, like my grandchild. The World needs to know her sweet name. Do not let her go without answering her memory in this life.