U.S. Embassy Apia issued the following Warden Message on October 1:
On September 29, following an earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, Samoa was hit with tsunami waves that caused an undetermined number of casualties and significant property damage, primarily along the south and south eastern coasts of Upolu Island.
We suggest that U.S. citizens or nationals contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their welfare and whereabouts. The U.S. Embassy in Apia will continue to monitor the tsunami aftermath and will seek to contact U.S. citizens or nationals who may be at hotels, resorts, or hospitals. U.S. citizens or nationals are urged to locate shelters, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. U.S. citizens or nationals should carry their travel documents at all time (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. Additional information on the earthquake may be found at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/?region=2.
Please continue to monitor the Embassy’s website for updated information at: www.samoa.usembassy.gov. For further information please consult the Country Specific Information for Samoa, available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.
For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens or nationals, please contact the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 5the Floor ACC Building, Matafele Apia, SAMOA; telephone 685-21631, 22696; after hours emergency telephone 685-777-1776; e-mail AmEmbApia@state.gov ; web page http://samoa.usembassy.gov/.
For the latest safety/security information, U.S. citizens or nationals living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at: http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
