On September 29th, a powerful underwater earthquake at 8.0 on the Richter scale in the Pacific off the Samoa islands region generated a tsunami and waves 3 meters high across Samoa Islands in the South Pacific. The tsunami swept Apia, Western Samoa, and Pago Pago, American Samoa, according to the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

Photo courtesy of the BBC

Following its mobilization for the Philippines, just days ago, and at the request of UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination), TSF deploys to the Samoa islands to initiate a telecom operation in the region. TSF will support the UNDAC team in its assessment missions, and will be able to identify and respond to every telecom issue at the heart of the crisis.

Entire villages had been wiped out in Samoa on the worst-hit south and southwest coasts where thousands of people live. Several tourist resorts and villages were devastated. Telecommunications and power were cut in many areas, and major roads were badly damaged.

According to the latest estimations, more than 120 people were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands of people were left homeless. Many more deaths are likely to be reported in the tragedy. People in Samoa were reported to be returning to the sites of their homes to inspect the damage and search for the missing.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially issued a tsunami alert over a vast swathe of the Pacific. It lifted its alert about five hours after the first quake. The team will remain in the zone in order to guarantee telecom solutions that benefit United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination.

The mission is supported by the Vodafone Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, Vizada, AT&T, Cable and Wireless, PCCW Global, the Communauté d’Agglomération de Pau, and the Conseil Régional d’Aquitaine.