Samoa(America), October 04: Fears of deadly outbreaks of disease in tsunami-battered Samoa mounted, as frightened survivors sheltering on higher ground refused to return to their beachfront villages, aid workers said.
As roads and beaches were cleared of debris and rebuilding began, planeloads of medical supplies were rushed to the Pacific island nation which was pounded by massive waves following a 8.0-magnitude undersea quake Tuesday.
The number of people confirmed or feared dead from the tragedy in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga reached at least 180, but officials warned the toll would rise. Related article: Samoa resorts destroyed
Dr Limbo Fiu, a manager with the National Health Services in Samoa, said a second wave of deaths was looming.
“In a few weeks, we will see many people sick with gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. That will affect the young and the elderly. Deaths are inevitable,” he told reporters.
Rosemarie North of the Samoa Red Cross said aid workers were concerned that clean water and other essentials would not reach survivors who were refusing to return to their traditional coastal settlements.
Instead they are staying with relatives, camping out in school houses or living in crude homes under tarpaulins or tents in plantations.
On the worst-hit areas along the southern coast of the main Samoan island of Upolu, families have abandoned their wiped out villages and moved inland.
“We asked 25 groups if they would return to the coast and 24 said ‘no way, this is our village now’,” she said.
“They have made themselves comfortable but this is posing problems for relief workers.”
North said that while some villagers were too scared to return, in many cases the tsunami had changed the landscape and scoured away the land on which their homes and gardens once stood.
“It’s quite a horrible sight. It’s just kind of grey rubble where there used to be beautiful beaches and lovely gardens,” she said.
Paneta Sagale Lauiliu, who lost his mother in the tragedy, said his family would abandon its seaside home in favour of higher ground.
“We have no intention of moving back down,” he told AFP from a camp an hour’s walk from the coast. “There’s no way we’re going back to the beach and I don’t think anyone else in our village will do that.”
Lauiliu, whose four-year-old son Sepi was swept up by the tsunami and survived by clinging to a banana tree, said his family woas considering abandoning its beach hut rental business.
The earthquake and resulting tsunami, which left 129 dead and 10 missing in Samoa, 32 dead in neighbouring American Samoa and nine dead in the Pacific island nation of Tonga, prompted an international air effort.
Australia has sent 88 medical and search personnel to assist in recovery efforts while a New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 landed in Samoa Saturday carrying police dog search teams and medical experts. Related article: Wallabies donate aid
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who toured the stricken area on Friday, said the risk of disease was raised in meetings with local medical teams and New Zealand would send medics who specialise in infectious diseases.
–Agencies