Samoa and Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The Pacific Ocean has been rocked by two major earthquakes. A tsunami caused by an 8.0 earthquake near Samoa, centered about 120 miles south of the islands of Samoa (Samoa has about 220,000 people, nearby is the American Samoa, a U.S. territory of 65,000). The earthquake on Tuesday morning sent four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high on a collision course with the islands, reaching up to a mile inland. The waves destroyed any buildings that were not concrete or stone, splintering houses and dislocating cars and boats. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said it issued an alert, but the rising tsunamis reached the islands so quickly that residents had about 10 minutes to respond.

Searching the wreckage, police estimate that at least 120 people were killed. The death toll is expected to rise as the search for survivors, and bodies, continues. Many tourists were among the casualties.

Three of the major resorts were totally devastated, while the others suffered major damage.

Medical staff are spread thin with the increasing numbers of casualties. Red Cross is providing as much as they can, providing food, clothes and water.

Another powerful underwater earthquake rocked western Indonesia the following day, Wednesday. The 7.6 magnitude quake killed at least 200 people. Then, the following day a 6.9 quake also hit.

The Thursday earthquake struck on Sumatra island, about 180 miles from the epicenter of the quake on Wednesday. Thousands are feared to be trapped under the rubble.

Though the Indonesian quakes triggered tsunami warnings, no waves developed.

One is obliged to ask if these three major earthquakes are birth pains? Or simply a coincidence?

UPDATE: Indonesian Death Toll as of Thursday is 1,100.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Aid flows to tsunami-hit Samoas; death toll at 120 - Associated Press, Yahoo News

Indonesia shaken by another powerful quake - Associated Press, Yahoo News

Indonesian quake toll at 1,100, thousands missing - Associated Press, Yahoo News