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12 October 2009 

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Natural Disaster in the Pacific 


Undersea earthquakes recently have been strong in the South Pacific, rocking the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the islands of Samoa, and elsewhere. A tsunami developed on 29 September, hitting both Samoa and American Samoa, causing death and extensive damage. Hundreds of casualties are also reported in Indonesia from the earthquakes. Additionally, the Philippines has been struck by Typhoon Parma. VOA is covering the events, including rescue, relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.

Indonesia, Phillipines and American Samoa

 

 
A woman amid the rubble of her house which was badly damaged by an earthquake in isolated Limo Koto Timur village, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 04 Oct 2009
Indonesian Tsunami Survivors Arrive to Help Earthquake Victims  Audio Clip Available
Victims of the recent earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra are getting help from their neighbors to the north, survivors of the 2004 tsunami
Two boys walk through a damaged village in American Samoa
Samoans Get Aid, Struggle to Move On  Video clip available
Survivors remember those lost in tsunami
Rescuers try to dig out some residents allegedly trapped inside houses as landslides fall on houses at Cresencia Village, Baguio city, northern Philippines, 09 Oct 2009
Landslide Death Toll Above 200 in Northern Philippines
Officials say death toll continues to rise and many people are still missing
Floods submerge part of Baguio city, northern Philippines, 9 Oct 2009
More Than 90 Killed in Northern Philippines Landslides
Typhoon Parma has been pounding country with heavy rain since Saturday
Traffic clogs the narrow roads out of the capital Apia as residents flee from a tsunami warning in Samoa, 07 Oct 2009
Tsunami Alert Canceled After Series of Pacific Earthquakes
United States Geological Survey says 6.7 earthquake occurred in Pacific 280 kilometers from Philippines early Thursday
Victor Sardina fields phone calls at the Richard H. Hagemeyer Pacific Tsunami Warning Center located in Ewa Beach on the island of Oahu, 07 Oct 2009
Undersea Quakes Trigger Panic in South Pacific
But scientists say recent spike in activity is not unusual and just a part of normal cycle of earthquake activity
Filifaiesea Vailolo carries suitcase through debris left in wake of the tsunami in the town of Pago Pago in American Samoa, 02 Oct 2009
Samoans Wait for Aid, Start Rebuilding  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
Villagers get help from other people, government, Red Cross to rebuild their homes, while trying to salvage anything to have sentimental value
An Indonesian soldier surveys a group burial in Lubuk Laweh village, northeast of Padang on Sumatra island, 07 Oct 2009
Indonesia Considers More Mass Graves for Quake Victims
Officials say as many as 400 people may have been buried alive by muddy landslides that washed over villages in Padang district of Sumatra island
A resident makes her way through mud as others go back to their homes carrying relief goods in Marikina, Philippines, 06 Oct 2009
UN Launches Multimillion Dollar Appeal for Philippines Disaster  Audio Clip Available
Appeal is for $74 million to provide emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of victims of two catastrophic typhoons that have struck country in less than two weeks
A Muslim woman looks on as US military personnel build a field hospital in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 06 Oct 2009
Indonesian Earthquake Aid Distribution Underway  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
US sends first installment of multimillion dollar assistance package to Indonesian Island of Sumatra, to aid victims of recent earthquake
Young girls play inside a tent at a camp housing survivors at Vailoa village along Samoa's south east coast, after a deadly tsunami, 03 Oct 2009 
Devastated Village in American Samoa Recovers From Tsunami  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
Residents of seaside village are coping with the ravages of nature say the bonds of community are helping them recover
Aid workers distribute items to villagers at the village of Saleapag on Samoa, 05 Oct 2009
Recovery Effort Beginning in American Samoa  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
Power, telecommunications restored, schools and businesses reopen in most parts of island
A woman amid the rubble of her house which was badly damaged by an earthquake in isolated Limo Koto Timur village, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 04 Oct 2009
Indonesian Earthquake Rescue Efforts Increase In Villages  Audio Clip Available
Emergency workers shift focus from Padang city to rural areas where landslides buried entire villages
People gather for church service at Holy Cross Catholic Church in village of Leone, American Samoa, 4 Oct 2009
Samoan Tsunami Victims Turn to Faith for Support  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
People are turning to each other and faith for support as cleanup, recovery efforts continue
A man retrieves wood from the rubble in Padang, Indonesia, 05 Oct 2009
Indonesian Earthquake Efforts Shift to Rebuilding Phase  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
More than 1,000 people died in last week's quake and over 180,000 buildings were severely damaged or destroyed
A woman amid the rubble of her house which was badly damaged by an earthquake in isolated Limo Koto Timur village, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 04 Oct 2009
Earthquake Victims in Indonesian Villages Need Help to Rebuild  Audio Clip Available
Poor villagers hurt by the earthquake say they need help from foreign countries, like the US to rebuild
Indonesian soldier jumps during operation to remove bodies trapped in Ambacang Hotel, Padang, Indonesia, 03 Oct 2009
Hope Fades for Buried Indonesian Quake Victims
In rural areas outside Padang, some villages have been wiped out by landslides triggered by the earthquake
Bystanders watch rescue work as night falls in Padang, Indonesia, 03 Oct 2009
Officials: 3,000 People Trapped Due to Indonesian Quake
People may still be trapped in rubble from powerful earthquake that devastated Indonesia's port city of Padang
Some people are only eating one meal a day
UN Group Demands Better Rescue Efforts In Disasters
Appeal comes at regional conference in Budapest, Hungary of the UN's International Search And Rescue Advisory Group
Aerial image of buildings destroyed by earthquake in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 03 Oct 2009
Earthquake Cripples Indonesian City of Padang  Audio Clip Available
Undersea earthquake that hit Indonesian island of Sumatra originated only 50  kilometers from city
Filifaiesea Vailolo carries suitcase through debris left in wake of the tsunami in the town of Pago Pago in American Samoa, 02 Oct 2009
Death Toll Rises in Pacific Islands, Families Cope with Losses from Tsunami  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
People of American Samoa starting to clean up as they cope with their vivid memories
Local residents make their way through floodwaters in Taytay township, Rizal province east of Manila, Philippines, 03 Oct 2009
3 Dead as Typhoon Parma Hits Philippines
Typhoon, with gusts of about 200 kilometers per hour, made landfall Saturday, tearing roofs off buildings, toppling trees, cutting power lines
Pallets of relief supplies to be delivered to Padang, Indonesia being readied at Yokota Air Force Base in Japan by U.S. Air Force personnel
US Military Helping in Four Pacific Disasters
Forces deployed for relief efforts following storms and tsunami damage
An Indonesian woman dries her mattresses outside her home damaged by an earthquake in Pariaman,  about 40 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 02 Oct 2009
Critical Humanitarian Operations Underway In Asia-Pacific
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is mounting a huge humanitarian relief operation to help victims of six natural disasters in Asia-Pacific area
Taytay township residents in Rizal province, east of Manila, go on with their life amid floodwaters, 02 Oct 2009
'State of Calamity' in Philippines as Typhoon Nears
Typhoon Parma is forecast to hit Philippine's east coast Saturday with sustained winds of nearly 200 kilometers per hour
Indonesian youth clean up rubbles in their home destroyed by earthquake in Pariaman, coastal town about 40 miles northwest of Padang, West Sumatra
Rescue Workers Search for Survivors from Asian Disasters, Death Toll Likely to Rise  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
Death toll from Indonesia earthquake likely to pass 1,000; more than 400 killed by Typhoon Ketsana in Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos
American Air Force and Indonesian Army members load emergency aid material into US cargo plane in Jakarta, flying to earthquake-hit West Sumatra, 02 Oct 2009
Foreign Rescue Teams Assist Indonesia Quake Victims
Medical teams, search dogs, earth-moving equipment and emergency supplies have been trickling into Padang, capital of West Sumatra province
A man cleans his roof in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines, 01 Oct 2009
UN Gears Up Relief Operations for Asian-Pacific Disasters
UN Humanitarian Chief John Holmes says UN is deploying teams to help millions affected by tropical storms, earthquakes, tsunamis in Asia-Pacific region
Indonesian soldiers and rescue workers search for earthquake victims trapped under a destroyed building in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 01 Oct 2009
Indonesian Earthquake Kills More Than 700  Video clip available
Officials say death toll from Wednesday's earthquake continues to rise, thousands remain trapped under collapsed buildings on island of Sumatra
Survivor walks through ruins of Salebata village on south coast of Samoa, 30 Sep 2009
Pacific Island Nations Dig Out From Tsunami  Audio Clip Available
Aid begins reaching islands devastated by powerful earthquake; death toll has surpassed 120
Indonesian soldiers carry an earthquake victim's body in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 01 Oct 2009
Death Toll Rises From Indonesia Earthquake  Audio Clip Available
Western Indonesia was rattled by another severe earthquake a day after a quake trapped thousands of people under collapsed buildings
Victim of earthquake is treated in Sumatra, 30 Sep 2009
Fatalities Increase After Earthquakes in Samoa, Indonesia  Video clip available
Earthquake that struck off coast of Sumatra has killed at least 200 people, while number of dead from Tuesday's 8.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami waves has risen to at least 119
Office workers gather outside their building after feeling an earthquake tremor in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 30 Sep 2009
Powerful Earthquake Kills 75 in Indonesia, Traps Thousands  Audio Clip Available
US Geological Survey says quake had magnitude of 7.9 and was centered 600 km northwest of Jakarta, shock waves were felt in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia
People walk along scene of devastation following powerful quake in Pago Pago village on American Samoa, 30 Sep 2009
Tsunamis Devastate Pacific Islands  Audio Clip Available
Officials say waves were triggered by powerful deep sea earthquake between Samoa and American Samoa; scores of people reported killed
Strong Quake Strikes Off Indonesia's Java Island
US reports 6.1 magnitude earthquake south of main island of Java Monday, following another earthquake last week that killed at least 64 people 
Jakarta May Be Largely Protected From Indonesia's Deadly Quakes  Audio Clip Available
Geologists say it is likely city will only ever feel effects of earthquakes with epicenters more than 100 miles away
Rescue Efforts Continue After Indonesia Earthquake  Audio Clip Available
Rescuers recover several bodies from rubble of giant landslide, lifting death toll from this week's powerful Java earthquake to at least 64
Indonesia Quake Death Toll Rises, Scores Still Missing  Audio Clip Available
Officials say 7.0-magnitude earthquake, which struck Wednesday off Java island's coast, has killed at least 57 people
Earthquake Shakes Indonesia's Java Island  Audio Clip Available
At least 33 dead; 7.0 magnitude quake struck in waters off main island of Java
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Government of the Philippines - http://www.gov.ph/

Background information on the Philippines - http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm

US Geological Survey Earthquake Center - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Federal Emergency Management Agency - http://www.fema.gov/

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center - http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/

Government of American Samoa - http://americansamoa.gov/

Profile of the territory - http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/american_samoa.htm

National Park of American Samoa - http://www.nps.gov/npsa/index.htm

Republic of Indonesia – official site -
http://www.indonesia.go.id/en/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Republic of Indonesia – country profile - http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2748.htm