One death reported after Heta hits Samoa

[senorpepr]

At least one person has been reported dead following a powerful cyclone which has hit Samoa.

Officials in the capital, Apia, say one person was washed out to sea as waves whipped up by cyclone Heta pounded Upolu.

The Assistant head of Samoa's Meteorology Division, Ausetalia Titimaea, says wind gusts of 100-kilometers an hour are still being experienced.

He says on the island of Savai'i there are reports of houses being unroofed, trees uprooted and power lines brought down.

Samoa's acting national disaster management officer, Tau Lealea Usumai Malua, says the continuing storm is preventing an accurate assessment of damage.

Meanwhile, residents of coastal villages in American Samoa are packing up and moving inland ahead of Cyclone Heta sweeping through the area.

At Poloa in American Samoa, a family of four managed to pack two suitcases of belongings before fleeing as their beach house was washed away.

Three people were washed out to sea at Fagasa, but managed to make it safely back to shore as families in coastal areas were advised to move to higher ground with the situation expected to worsen.

Pago Pago International Airport is closed.

Cyclone Heta is expected to continue traveling southeast and will be close to the islands of northern Tonga and Niue by late Tuesday.

[cycloneye]

Sad to know about that fatalitie there and I hope that no more bad news comes out of Samoa.

[senorpepr]

Yes, it's very unfortunate. Luckily the fatalities appear to be a small number. Quite fortunate, in that matter, saying how Heta was such a powerful storm.