There is so much grief, so much death, and the numbers are increasing.
This was the day of death. And Loss. And Desperation. And much much more.
We drove to the Atu Falealili District right through to the Lalomanu area, and saw first hand the cruel hand of nature on our people, homes, land and everything we love.
Our dear family friend, Aunty Tui has passed away so tragically.
More bodies are being recovered as we speak, there is so much death and suffering.
We are grateful to be alive.
We were in Apia when the earthquake happened. The house SHOOk for a long time (over a minute perhaps) and we immediately ran to the car and uphill. The rest of the people, children, old people, everyone headed uphill.
At the same time, we heard reports on the radio that a wave has hit Poutasi, Lalomanu, but details were unclear.
We hopped in the car and sped over Cross Island Road...pickup trucks went past with bodies wrapped in sheets. We were shocked, but as we neared the coast, more and more bodies were taken to Motootua.
We reached Poutasi first. The first time we saw were boats, thrown from the sea to the roadside, a considerable distance of more than 2 football fields.
Beyond the boats, the ford (bridge) that linked Poutasi to the road was gone. We had to cross using the stream. Joe and Tui's humble home is but an empty shell. Rocks everywhere. Houses completely plucked from their foundations and tossed to the back of the village, along with fridges, cattle, furniture and photos.
Photos of people smiling back at me. At a very distant life.
I stumble across Tui's (Annandale) framed photo, the glass broken, sand but her stunning face remains at her 20s - not so different from her many years later. Gorgeous woman. A selfless family who have built their village, given opportunities for others, so so selfless, so inspirational. Tui is no longer around to be an inspiration for many.
May she rest in peace.
Poutasi seens like a ghost town, 3 children have died, a grandmother is missing.
This was too much grief.
As we left the village, we meet Lale and his medic crew, standing by the stream, having no one to rescue.
We left Poutasi as a crowd of people descended on the village, trying to salvage anything they could find.
We drove towards Lepa, we passed Salani Resort and saw their sturdy accommodations had been thrown back towards the forest.
Lepa is a flat land, littered by large rocks. The homes, cars, everything had been either washed to sea or let at the foothills.
The road to Lalomanu is shattered in places. Large bouldered litter the road.
The Police are hard at work, digging, clearing roads, embracing mourning family members.
More cars pass by, with the dead at the back of the utes.
More destruction.
This is sadness, fear, desperation, loss.
This is extreme loss.
And my spirit cries thinking of the men, women and children who have perished, and their loved ones who are standing by the roadside with nothing but their broken souls.
May they rest in peace.
If you want to help, there are several ways, RED CROSS, TVNZ, Westpac in New Zealand or SUNGO.
The following are the details of the Samoa Umbrella of Non Governmental Organisations and Civil Based Society.
Account Name. SUNGO A./c
Account Number: 0632514.
Bank.- National Bank of Samoa.
B. Swift. NBSLWSWS.
For more information contact Roina Vavatau (CEO)
Vaasiliifiti Moelagi (Vice President)
