UNESCO-IOC International Tsunami Survey Team Samoa (ITST Samoa) : interim report of field Survey 14th - 21st October 2009

The tsunami of 29th September 2009 was regionally important within the SW Pacific, a physical disaster for some communities in Samoa and a psychological trauma for the whole country. The earthquake that triggered the tsunami occurred so close to the south coast of Upolu that whilst warning messages were issued, insufficient time existed for low-lying exposed communities to fully evacuate. People within communities claim that either they did not receive a warning message or, that if they did, it came too late. Further, a confused picture is emerging about people’s stated reaction to the earthquake, any warning messages, and then the arrival of the tsunami at the coast. Many people state that for whatever reason, they did not know how to react.