Pacific Island Tsunamis Leave over 100 Dead, Many Missing

A British toddler is missing presumed dead after the waves washed him out to sea in Samoa. Photo by BGNES

Tsunamis triggered by a strong quake in the South Pacific have killed more than 100 people across a number of islands.

At least 77 people were reported dead in Samoa, more than 25 in American Samoa and at least six in Tonga. A British toddler is missing presumed dead after the waves washed him out to sea in Samoa.

Residents and tourists fled to higher ground as whole villages were destroyed. Boats were swept inland and cars and people out to sea.

The 8,3-magnitude quake struck at 1748 GMT on Tuesday, generating 4,5m waves in some areas of the islands.

The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory. The total population is about 250 000.

A general tsunami warning was issued for the wider South Pacific region but was cancelled a few hours later. Separately on Tuesday a 7,9 magnitude earthquake struck a different fault line off the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

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