The 8.0 earthquake that hit the Samoan islands yesterday resulted in a tsunami that claimed dozens of lives, according to reports. Minutes after the quake, waves over ten feet tall began striking the islands’ populations as children were readying for school and workers were starting their days. Last night, Barack Obama declared a major disaster in the Territory of American Samoa and assigned federal aid. At least 89 people are confirmed dead, and the toll is expected to rise above 100.
Scores Are Killed as Tsunami Hits Samoa Islands [NYT]
Related: In other bad news from the Pacific, a typhoon in Vietnam killed 41 people, and another 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Sumatra.
