8 still missing in Samoa after Evan

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8 still missing in Samoa after Evan

3News NZ

Police say the death toll has now risen to four and at least eight other people are still missing

Police say the death toll has now risen to four and at least eight other people are still missing

Samoa has had its first chance to clean up after Cyclone Evan devastated much of the country.

Police say the death toll has now risen to four and at least eight other people are still missing.

A wall of water ripped through much of Samoa thanks to flooding from Cyclone Evan, and some villages have been completely wiped out. Very little escaped the power of the storm.

Rudy Bartley's family home is near Apia town centre. Nothing could be salvaged.

“It could have been worse,” says the Lelata village resident. “These are just material things. I don't really care about it. But if my mum or dad had died I can't imagine the price. I wasn't here. That's the problem. I was stuck in traffic. But all this doesn't really matter to me.”

Just 100m from his house, police search teams were out in force. Mr Bartley's family was spared. Many others weren't.

At least 200 homes in Lelata were flattened. Police are coming along and making their way up the river looking for victims.

One of the bodies police are looking for is Pauta Tanu's husband. He was trying to save a woman from the floodwaters when he was pulled under and swept away.

“Right now it's really hard as I don't have anyone to count on,” says Ms Tanu, speaking through a translator. “Before when he was alive, he was the one working for the family and I’m now taking care of the four kids and pregnant at the moment.”

In Apia town centre the cleanup is underway. The biggest issue now is the lack of power, clean water and shelter.

More than 3000 have been left homeless and are in 21 makeshift evacuation centres.

This was the first cyclone of the season for Samoa. But it's one no one will forget.

3 News

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Comments

17/12/2012 8:19:48 p.m.

Seumanutafa wrote:

Sad news at home again. The fact is NZ$54million dollars went unaccounted for by HRPP during the tsunami.Short answer is this time around fiscal assistance will undergo stringent checks from overseas donors.People will suffer longer as a result of that process.Ia manuia tatou nu'u peleina.

17/12/2012 3:09:23 p.m.

Nimo Radiant Too wrote:

this is not a time for our people to point the finger at anyone, its time for everyone to pull together in prayer and support for our loved ones and our precious nation during this difficult time, this was a natural disaster not a political one,no politician can stand against the power of the almighty anyway, so stand in unity with a gratitude heart and be thankful that the disaster didn't wipe the whole nation out. Prayers are with you all our precious SAMOA.

17/12/2012 7:16:33 a.m.

Ps Matia Seala wrote:

ia faamaise le Agaga ole Atua i aiga ua maliiu ma le iloa nisi o Tagata,Ia faamafanafanaina o outou loto e le Agaga Paia o le Atua ona o e ua toese i le afa Evan, Ia agalelei foi la Atua i le taitai o Samoa ma ona tagata.

16/12/2012 12:16:26 p.m.

Aristocrat wrote:

If tuilaepa is doing a good job, than why is he in Auckland instead of helping rebuild his country. And how did he manage to enter nz without anyone noticing. Did he somehow know it was going to happen ????? (Evan).

16/12/2012 12:35:33 a.m.

Lu wrote:

sole seiuli if you think you can do a better job than tuilaepa then go ahead..he wasn't mentioned in Mahonri Schwalger's letter as one of the people who misused funds you idiot..why do you think the opposition side hasn't taken over all these years?its because they lack brains..we are way better off with HRPP at the helm..Ia manuia Samoa

15/12/2012 9:33:47 p.m.

Elaine Schuster wrote:

You're going to state that our Heavenly Father is going to punish those that you name? At this point in time when words of positivity and assurance and support is much needed? How self-indulgent and agenda-driven.

15/12/2012 7:23:18 p.m.

Seiuli Siaosi wrote:

The Samoan people need funds to rebuild. Send your money directly to your family , unless you forget the lessons from the tsunami and world cup rugby funds that were stolen from the samoan people by the HRPP ring leader Tuilaepa himself. The samoan gov. And other charities will not give the donated money to the samoans. Dont waste oney, send it by money gram or western union to a samoan directly.HRPP will steal the money and use it to bribe their way into office during the next election.everyone knows this but whowill ever stop it. Only God will revenge the Samoan people who suffer at the hands of their own government. Samoans are used to being poor says Tuilaepa. Please God take this evil soul away from the good people of Samoa.