Noticeboard: Looking for Loved Ones In South Coast Samoa
Posted: October 1, 2009 Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, Noticeboard Tsunami, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: aleipata., Breaking News, breaking news looking for loved ones in samoa, Breaking news tsunami, daniel bertani, daniel dencik, lalomanu tsunami, Litia Sini Lalomanu hit by tsunami, Lotofaga, tapu legalo saleapaga 20 CommentsI’ve been receiving a steady stream of requests for help in locating missing friends and family in Samoa. Some have been located within 24 hours. Others have yet to be. To answer questions about the villages of Lotofaga and Lalomanu, this is as much as we know at this point. Information is slowly trickling in. For the most part, the survivors are either being treated at the hospital or quietly getting on with clearing up their villages, where-ever possible, or mourning and preparing burials for those who didn’t make it.
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Lotofaga
A number of readers have emailed asking for more information on Lotofaga. It hasn’t been easy getting through on the phones there. From what I have been told: expect casualties there, the village is very close to the coast, rather than inland. Pray for a miracle and be strong.
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Lalomanu
As you may already know from news reports and family, Lalomanu was completely wiped as a village, beach fales gone, it’s desolated. The good news, for a number of children who were missing in Lalomanu, in one case a family of six children were missing. They were at school when the tsunami hit so they survived. There are still many reported missing and families in NZ are having a difficult time getting through on the lines. But some families have received news this morning from those in Apia. So keep strong. The death toll is not fully know right now as bodies are still being retrieved.
Do you have any information on the following people in Samoa?
These are requests from friends or family of those in Samoa. Email editor@pacificeyewitness.org or write a comment on the site. We will pass on the information. Thank you very much.
MISSING
- Mrs. Luluù Berns (resident in Brisbane but visiting the sick mother Lua) and his family and the families Falinga and Fauena residents in Saleapaga and Lalomanu us you would be very helpful.Daniel and Elisabetta Bertani, Italy.
- Tapu legalo, in Saleapaga( which is in the district of Aleipata), his sister Kuruseta, and all the kids living around faofao.. does anyone know what happened to them?Daniel Dencik
A number of readers have asked after Tapu and her family.- Please read the comments section of this posting for other readers seeking information on missing friends and family.
- In fact, many of the comments contain request for information on the missing. Please check them out and if you can help with information, send it through to editor@pacificeyewitness.org or post it directly to comments.
FOUND
This morning, one of our readers Mary-Beth Hunter and Brett Gillies received word that their co-worker Chris Kroger and her daughter, who were holidaying at Litia Sini, have been found in Apia. Excellent news.
We’ve also received some good news from family and friends missing in Lalomanu since the tsunami, who have been found this morning. Still others not yet found.
***Please check other postings on this website as this information will be updated. Any additional names not on this post will be headlined Noticeboard
Archives to March 2010 - PEW 
We are an Italian group who stayed at Litia Sini beach fales in august 2007. We are anxious to hear news about the fate of Litia Sini and family. Someone else posted the same question several days ago but I have not yet seen any reply. We would also like to express our deep heartfelt condolences to the whole community.
Talofa Alice, Litia Sini was on the village of Lalomanu as you may know. It was wiped out and the village of Lalomanu was completely destroyed. Lives and homes were lost. I will send you an email for access to the official list of deceased.
Please click on the following link to write messages of condolences.
http://pacificeyewitness.org/2009/10/06/if-you-wish-to-send-condolences-to-samoa-and-tonga-please-read/
It will be included with the hundreds and hundreds of emails and posts we have already received, we will be forwarding to the Samoan Government in a special document. So please write as soon as you can before end of today.
Time constraints mean we are unable answer every individual comment posted, particularly if it is already covered or answered in another comment posting.
For more information on Samoa and the tsunami, go to Search Site tab here, and type in related key words such as “Lalomanu”, “tsunami.”
Hope this helps.
Here is a special website set up for Koroseta, Tapu, Kueva, Au’vaa, and the Legalo family of FaoFao who lost everything in the Tsunami. Please click above for a link to the site, and please help this family if you are thinking about them. Thank you!
Please click on the website above for information on how to help Tapu, Koroseta, and the rest of the Legalo family.
Tapu and Koroseta’s family is fine and I have also heard news that Leua is in fack fine. I have been trying to post the following website for the past three days, trying to help the Legalo family. Please click here: http://copper.wnmu.edu/~jostm/faofao.html
My close friend, who has lost many many family members at Aleipata, assures me that Koroseta and the gang from Faofao are all safe (including tourists) as they had steps carved into the mountain, which they were all able to run up.
But please, does anyone have news of Lydia and gang from litia Sini. Despite enquiries everywhere I can think of, I can’t find any news of them at all.
Update: Auntie Thelma survived and is in Apia. Shawn is in Thailand and Phillip was visiting him there. Still missing are Kiel, Victor/Namulauulu, and Asueta families. Love you Auntie Thelma.
Looking for family missing in Leone, Tony Tuitele and Dr. John Maaveave Tuitele. Cousin Beka Willis is worried. If anyone knows their status, we appreciate your update in advance.
Sorry stressed and forgot to note last names. Orlando and Rita Kiel, Avo and Ili Victor (possibly Namulauulu), and Dora and Josie Asueta.
We are looking for my Auntie Thelma Lindenmuth (and cousins who were on their way to the Philippines but may not have got out of Samoa before the tsunami – Shawn and Philip Lindenmuth) from Apia. In the same family are my cousins Rita, Orlando, Avo and Ili, who own and operate a hotel on the water near or in Apia. Auntie Dora and Josie, if you see this, please call grandma Seia or post something here. We are so worried and if anyone knows the whereabouts or status of any of these people, please write. To our Willis relatives/friends, Jewell made contact with Liz and Becky who are both okay. God Bless you all and may His hand to rebuild and heal Samoa come swiftly.
Talofa,
I am also hoping to hear of news from the Legalo family, very good friends of mine. Any news of the family- Tapu and Rosa, Vaa, Little Fao fao, Leua, Paye, Tuua, the twin sisters (cousins)? Thank you for the updates. All are in our thoughts and prayers.
Talofa,
Meghan
Meghan, they are fine – please click on the above link to send aid to the Legalo family.
I am desperately trying to find out whether Tapu Lagalo, his sister Koroseta and family such as Sailini, Lini & Kalilo at FaoFao Beach Fales are ok.
Do you know if there has been any news from them or if they are safe? Has anyone been in contact advising of where they might be? Could you please let me know if you are aware of anything. I am so worried about them.
Talofa Sara,
A reader sent through the following post at 1.26am. Tapu and Koroseta’s mother has passed away.
“Talofa,
It was confirmed earlier this evening by family members who returned from Samoa that Leua, mother of Koloseta + Tapu has passed away. As for the rest of the Legalo family, we are still uncertain.
Faasega Atatai”
Sara, I’ve sent you an email. Asking around for the others you mentioned, and hopefully one of our readers will post if they know. A friend, whose family are in Lalomanu, is going to take your email you sent me to Samoa and hopefully one of Reverend Rev Uaea and Violetta and grandson CJ from the CCCC of Saleapaga, or their family will contact us shortly.
Vienna Richards
This link will take you to the comment about Koroseta.
Some good news Sara on Reverend Uaea that you asked about in email. He is safe and alive and helping his village of Saleapaga. I’ll come back to you once we can find out how the rest of his family are.
Media have also reported his story at the following link.
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=49480
“Reverend Uaea Isaraelu says about 30 people from Saleapaga village were killed in the tsunami and lives would not have been lost if a warning had come in time.
He says there was about 10 minutes between the time of the earthquake and the tsunami hitting which would have given the villagers the time to run if there had been a warning.
Reverend Isaraelu says the villagers are now too afraid to return to the coast and want the government to help them relocate.”
Sara, they are fine – please click on the above link to send aid to the Legalo family.
We are looking for the names of survivors from Litia Sini – Lidia and Dan, and TJ and Joe and other staff.
I am looking for information on the well being of Mr Sailo Paepaega and the Paepaega family.
They are originally from Alafua but may now be located in Saleapaga, Aleipata.
Does anyone know if they have survived or if they need medical, emotional or financial aid?
Thank you.
We’r Still Waiting On News From Family In Aleipata ! My Aunty Milo Is On A Wheelchair Does Anybody Know Her Or Know If She Has Been Found .. Milovale Paipa Thats Her Name