Samoa police say 63 dead in tsunami, toll may rise

A powerful Pacific Ocean earthquake spawned towering tsunami waves that swept ashore on Samoa and American Samoa, flooding and flattening villages, killing at least 63 people and leaving dozens missing.

Cars and people were swept out to sea by the fast—churning water as survivors fled to higher ground, where they remained huddled hours after the quake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale struck early on Wednesday.

Samoan police commissioner Lilo Maiava told The Associated Press that police have confirmed 63 deaths, and officials are still searching the devastated areas, so the number of deaths might rise soon.

At least 19 people also were killed in American Samoa.

Signs of devastation were everywhere, with a giant boat washed ashore lying on the edge of a highway and floodwaters swallowing up cars and homes.

The quake struck around dawn 190 kilometers from American Samoa, a US territory that is home to 65,000 people.

Four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high roared ashore soon afterward, reaching up to 1.6 kms inland, Mike Reynolds, superintendent of the National Park of American Samoa, was quoted as saying by a parks service spokeswoman.

Courtesy:beat.thehindu.com

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