A strong earthquake, with the magnitude of 8.3, has hit the Samoan Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean and about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, early yesterday morning, triggered a tidal wave measuring up to 4.5 meters in height, where as soon as the tsunami hit land it wiped out entire villages, killing more than 100 people.

Within a few minutes of the earthquake, a tsunami was formed, not providing enough time for people to escape to higher grounds; thus, causing massive devastation throughout entire villages which have been destroyed by the waves, and hundreds left homeless. The American Samoa reported 25 deaths, while the neighboring Samoa reported 77 deaths, as for Tonga it reported 6 deaths.

A tsunami warning was issued for the entire South Pacific region, yet it was cancelled shortly after. Barack Obama declared a “major disaster” in the American Samoa, which is a US territory made up of a population of almost 65 thousand people; while the population of the independent Samoa is about 185 thousand. A US emergency aid will be made available as soon as possible, according to the White House.

So far, the extent of damage produced by one of the worst disasters the islands has ever witnessed, is not known yet, but both Australia and New Zealand are ready to send emergency aid, while the US will be deploying federal emergency teams to supplement local rescuing efforts.

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An aid worker in Samoa said waves of at least six metres have wiped out beach-side resorts in the South of the largest island.

Sati Young who is a Red Cross worker said he is with three families who have lost a total of ten family members.

Young said the tourist area of Lalamanu has been devastated by the tsunami early this morning.

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Young said since the waves measured about six metres in height, it carried debris up to the top of the trees.

The death toll from this morning’s tsunami and 8.3 earthquakes off Samoa is feared to soar.

According to Radio New Zealand 26 deaths have been confirmed but Samoa’s disaster management office said the disaster may have killed up to 100 people.

The Assistant Chief Executive Ausegalia Mulipola said teams are still searching for victims of the tsunami, with reports some villages in the country’s southeast had been destroyed.

Three children are said to have died when a building collapsed in Upolu rather than Savaii as earlier reported.

Most of the resorts and hotels along the south coast of Upolu Island in Samoa have been wiped out by this morning’s earthquake and tsunami.

19 people have been confirmed dead in American Samoa and the main village of Pag Pago is said to be completely devastated.

An Australian woman is reported to be one of the dead, also among the victims are two South Koreans.

American President Barrack Obama has declared American Samoa a disaster state.

The U.S. Coast Guard is sending a C-130 plane to American Samoa to deliver aid and assess damage.

Reports say ten people died on the Tongan island of Niua Toputapu

Seven people in neighbouring Samoa are reported to have died but the figure is expected to rise.

Assessments are being made and NZ has offered to assist.