Disaster in Samoa

Tsunami Kills at Least 141

Obama sends aid to American sector.

A 7.6 earthquake in Indonesia set off a round of temporary Tsunami warnings Wednesday morning following seismic disasters in Samoa. On Tuesday, a tsunami killed at least 141 people in Samoa, a nation of about 220,000 people, and American Samoa, a nearby U.S. territory with a population of 65,000, following a massive 8.0 earthquake 120 miles off the coast. Mud, debris, and large fish covered roads in populated areas. The Wall Street Journal reports that President Obama declared a "major disaster" and ordered federal aid to American Samoa. In Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, water surged 100 yards inland, causing electrical shortages, while in Samoa, waves destroyed resorts and small villages in remote areas.