A tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in the South Pacific has killed at least 65 people in Samoa and over 20 in American Samoa, the reports said.Samoan authorities say at least another 145 people injured and entire villages destroyed.
American Samoa's Delegate to U.S. Congress said thousands of people homeless in the area.A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck at 1748 GMT, the generation of 15 feet (4.5m) waves in some areas of the islands.
Islands Samoa consists of two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, U.S. territory - With a total population of around 250,000 people.
A tsunami warning was issued in the first game for the whole region, but canceled a few hours later.The Executive Director of the Samoa National Health Service told the BBC that 65 people were killed and 145 wounded.
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in American Samoa, which provides federal funds to help victims.
"Some of the areas that are only a few meters above sea level, so you can imagine the devastation," said Eni Faleomavaega, who represent American Samoa in the U.S..
"It caused serious damage to property and cars are floating everywhere."
"There would have been a warning system could provide adequate warning to people," he said.
Dr. Lemalu FIU, in a hospital in the capital of Samoa, Apia, said the death toll expected to rise as people arrived from the coastal areas.
Talutala maual, Secretary General of Samoa Red Cross, said he was traveling to the southern coast, where there were many injuries."We will not know the full extent of the damage until we get there and see with my own eyes," he said.
Ms. maual said it may take many months for people to rebuild their homes.
An Associated Press reporter said he saw "bodies everywhere" in the main hospital Lalomanu on the main Samoan island of Upolu, including at least one child.
The US Geological Service said the earthquake struck around 20 miles below the ocean floor and was followed 20 minutes later by an aftershock of magnitude 5.6.
Several foreign tourists were believed among the dead.
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