Tragedy in Samoa
At approximately 6.48am Tuesday morning, Samoa time, an earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale set in motion a devastating chain of events. The calm and serenity of the peaceful resort islands American Samoa and Western Samoa was shattered when the aggressive earthquake triggered a Tsunami which overcame the southern coasts of both islands; tragically taking buildings, cars and life in its path.
There are 32,000 people living in the coastal villages of this region and the area is home to a vast and popular tourism trade. The tourism trade provides a primary source of jobs and income for the local people and was buzzing with holidaying tourists at the time the Tsunami struck. While true to their nature, the locals are staying positive about rebuilding, the real impact of what has happened is still a long way from being truly realised. The immediate job at hand is dedicated to body recovery and the provision of basic services for the 3,000 plus people left homeless and those who are without water, clothing or power.
At last count the death toll was confirmed at 110. As the next few days pass this figure is sure to rise. The enormity of this tragic event has not been lost on the OCL staff, both local and international, who have lost both friends and family or even witnessed the tragedy unfold firsthand.
Rocked into action
Immediately after the earthquake struck, OCL staff members Scotty Mulholland and Jason Flaherty set off for the warehouse which is situated above the 15 metre limit and is also a couple of miles inland. Here they met up with the local OCL staff waited till after midday when the all clear was given.
OCL was able to continue operations at about 2pm in the afternoon and the staff here did a tremendous job catching up on all the requests for top up to stores. Calls around Samoa, both nationally and from overseas continued to spike all day and it was near impossible to get a call through to NZ or even across town. At 5:45 PM there was another Tsunami alert and Apia was evacuated again, this however turned out to be a false alarm and was called off just under an hour later.
Face to face with the loss and devastation close to home
OCL representatives attended the service for our dear friend Tui Annadalle who was taken from us as she and her husband Joe were driving away from their village of Poutasi. The Annadales have been close friends of OCL directors and were known by many that had shared their hospitality at the Sinalei Beach resort.
We all send out our most sincere condolences to the staff at OCL Samoa who have lost love ones, and to the wider Samoan community as a whole. Paul Makumbe, CEO and Atalua Falekaono, country manager in Tonga which was also hit, were one of the many to send heartfelt messages to those that have been affected by this unexpected tragedy.
How you can help
In Samoa, Oceanic staff are helping out wherever they can, if you have any questions or require any support from Oceanic please do not hesitate to contact us. Here in New Zealand, Aid Agencies are asking for donations to help with the relief effort. Below are contact details for many of the agencies involved:
- Oxfam Emergency appeal: 0800 600 700, +64 9 355 6500 or www.oxfam.org.nz
- Unicef NZ appeal: 0800 800 194, +64 4 496 9610 or www.unicef.org.nz
- NZ Red Cross: www.redcross.org.nz
- World Vision NZ: 0800 800 776 or +64 9 5807 700
- Salvation Army appeal: 0800 530 00, +64 4 384 5649 or www.salvationarmy.org.nz
- Caritas Aotearoa: 0800 221 022, +64 4 961 742 or www.caritas.org.nz
- Adventist Development and Relief Agency NZ: 0800 4999 111, +64 9 262 5620
- Pacific Cooperation Foundation: Westpac NZ Bank account 03 0539 0234978 01
- ANZ (NZ) Samoa appeal: Account number 01 1839 0143546 00