Pacific islands tsunamis

This item appears on page 18 of the November 2009 issue.

Soon after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurred southwest of American Samoa on Sept. 30, a series of tsunami waves hit Samoa, American Samoa and the Tonga islands, killing at least 129, injuring hundreds more and destroying villages, tourist resorts and roads along the coast. Many people fled to safety when the tsunami warning was broadcast on the radio.

Fiji and the Cook Islands had large waves but no reported damage.