An aerial view of an earthquake-triggered landslide in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Wednesday's
quake devastated a stretch of over 60 miles along the western coast of Sumatra island. Hundreds
of residents in four villages were reported to be buried in mud and debris : AP/Dita Alangkara

Earthquake Magnitude 7.6 : Southern Sumatra Indonesia

Date             Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:16:09 UTC
Location       0.789°S, 99.961°E
Depth           80 km (49.7 miles) set by location program
Region         SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
Distances    45 km (30 miles) WNW of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
                    220 km (135 miles) SW of Pekanbaru, Sumatra, Indonesia
                    475 km (295 miles) SSW of KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia
                    960 km (590 miles) NW of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia 
                    Complete technical information available here

Earthquake Wiped Out Four Entire Villages, 650 buried by Landslides

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 October, 2009 : - - At least four Indonesian villages were obliterated by earthquake-triggered landslides that buried as many as 644 people including a wedding party under mountains of mud and debris, officials said Saturday. The full extent of Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake was becoming apparent three days later as aid workers and government officials reached remote villages in the hills along Sumatra island's western coast.

If all 644 are confirmed dead - as is likely - the death toll in the disaster would jump to more than 1,300. The government's death toll currently is 715, with most casualties reported from the region's biggest city, Padang, where aid efforts are currently focused.

More than 3,000 people were listed as missing before the news about the obliterated villages emerged. The United Nations said in a report that more than 1.1 million people live in the 10 quake-hit districts. It said 10,00 houses collapsed, 19 public facilities were badly damaged, 50 schools destroyed and more than 80 mosques severely damaged.
Videos, photos, & full report at CBS News

SurfAid launch Appeal
Padang, the gateway to the Mentawai Islands and where most of the surf charter boats are based, has been seriously damaged and the death toll is more than 1,100 and there are fears that thousands more are still trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

SurfAid has gone into emergency mode and has staff doing assessments of the needs of the people in the coastal areas south of Padang, which are heavily populated and impoverished. SurfAid had Mentawai health program staff already in Padang and they have been reassigned to emergency work. SurfAid will respond to the immediate urgent needs with medical staff and supplies. SurfAid has eight doctors and three nurses preparing medical supplies. See report

> Padang Updates 04/10/2009
> Quake victims rescued after 60 hours 
> 17 Aussies unaccounted for in earthquake zone

Earthquake Magnitude 8.0 : Samoa Islands Region

Date           Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 17:48:11 UTC
Location     15.558°S, 172.073°W
Depth         18 km (11.2 miles) set by location program
Region        Samoa Islands Region
Distances   185 km (115 miles) ENE of Hihifo, Tonga
                   195 km (125 miles) S of APIA, Samoa
                   705 km (435 miles) NNE of NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga
                   2700 km (1670 miles) NNE of Auckland, New Zealand 
                   Complete technical information available here 

Names Of Tsunami Victims Released

The latest update on the number of tsunami victims shows 135 deaths and 310 injured as confirmed by the Ministry of Police. Of those who died, 117 have been identified as Samoan nationals and are listed here in the order that they were discovered. Identification of other casualties continues with forensic team assistance as the latest discovered corpses have decomposed. Search continues for eight (8) people believed to be missing.

Due to sensitivities surrounding names of foreign visitors and their respective laws which restrict publication without prior approval of their relatives, the names of those foreigners who are victims of this disaster cannot be released. Report Samoa Alive News

Tribute to to the victims of the tsunami
posted by samoanz77 on youtube 

 
Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, Tonga : photo Matangitonga.to

> Samoa Updates 04/10/2009
> National Disaster Council Tsunami Update
> Samoans prepare to bury the tsunami victims
> Maninoa Surfers Camp suffered major damage
> Slide show - Some photos of tsunami damage
> Britsih surfer survives by paddling out to sea

> Tonga Updates 04/10/2009
> PM Office releases names of tsunami victims
> French ship arrives with supplies for Niuatoputapu

Previous Reports:

Padang / Sumatra:
# 1 : 7.6 quake hits Sumatra, sections of Padang cut off
# 2 : Death toll soars past 400 after a second earthquake  
# 3 : Indonesian earthquake death-toll passes 1,100 mark
# 4 : Eyewitness surfer accounts from Padang earthquake
# 5 : Death & Injury totals rise in Padang, Samoa, & Tonga.  

Samoa / American Samoa & Tonga:
# 1 : Tsunami strikes after massive earthquake in SW Pacific 
# 2 : Samoa Tsunami: Salani Surf Resort is wiped out/gone 
# 3 : Samoan Tsunami: Kiwi surfer rides his way to survival

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Earthquakes / Tsunamis - Surfersvillage