As you must have heard on the news this morning, a number of South Pacific islands suffered an horrific natural disaster a few hours ago. I can be sure that for most of us, an event such as this reminds us that our daily concerns and worries are insignificant in the light of such a tragedy. Please donate whatever you can afford, even a few pounds or dollars, to aid the relief effort to the New Zealand Red Cross Samoa Relief Fund HERE or click on the link to the right.
REUTERS news agency reported this morning:
“A series of tsunamis smashed into the Pacific island nations of American and Western Samoa killing possibly more than 100 people, some washed out to sea, destroying villages and injuring hundreds, officials said on Wednesday.
Television images showed homes ripped apart, cars submerged in the sea or lodged in trees and large fishing boats hurled ashore by the waves generated by a 8.0 magnitude quake southwest of American Samoa.
A second 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra late on Wednesday, prompting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre to issue a tsunami watch for Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at least 60 people had been killed in Western Samoa.
Disaster officials said the toll may reach well over 100 as rescuers search for bodies in flattened villages along the southern shore of the island of Upolu.”
{ 0 comments… add one now }