Samoa mourns tsunami victims

9 Oct 2009, 3:11 pm   -   Source: AFP
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A national day of mourning has been held in Samoa for more than 140 people who were killed by last week's devastating tsunami.

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Flags flew at half mast and the mood was sombre in the Samoan capital Apia on a national day of mourning for more than 140 victims of last week's devastating tsunami.

Eleven of the 143 confirmed dead in the tsunami on Tuesday last week were to be buried together today following a memorial service for the victims in Apia, National Disaster Council spokeswoman Vaosa Epa said.

As well as the national day of mourning, a half day's holiday has been declared with businesses and government offices shutting their doors at midday.

Flags flew at half mast around the country ahead of the memorial service, which about 2,000 people were expected to attend, Epa said.

"The atmosphere is already beginning to be very sombre, reflecting it's a national day of mourning," Epa said.

"It's an unusual event that's happening right now, it's never been done here before."

Samoans still missing

Six people remain missing in Samoa and thousands are homeless after the tsunami, triggered by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, slammed into the southern coast of the most populated island of Upolu.

Another 32 were confirmed dead in neighbouring American Samoa and nine on Tonga's northern island of Niuatoputapu.

Samoans relived last week's terror on Wednesday when a 7.8 earthquake near Vanuatu - followed in quick succession by two more tremors over 7.0 - sparked a Pacific wide tsunami alert.

Panicking residents caused traffic gridlock in the capital Apia and homeless survivors from last week's devastation fled their makeshift hill camps to run higher up the slopes when the warning was issued.

A second tsunami did not eventuate but the alert inflamed the raw emotions generated a week earlier.

Families hold private burials

Originally at least 100 victims of last week's tsunami were expected to be buried together in the Apia cemetery.

But most families elected to bury their loved ones in family plots near their homes or where their homes used to stand.

A special memorial to all the victims will be built at the cemetery.

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