Disaster zone
September 30, 2009
The European Commission has announced 150,000 euros ($219,000) in emergency aid to the Samoan Islands which were hit by a deadly tsunami on Tuesday.
"This initial funding will be disbursed to the International Red Cross Federation ... to assist with primary emergency needs in Samoa," the EU's executive said on Wednesday.
The death toll from the tsunami, which was triggered by an 8.0 magnitude quake off American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean, rose above 100 on Wednesday. At least 77 died in Samoa, over 25 in neighbouring American Samoa and at least six people were killed in nearby Tonga.
"Thankfully the alarm sounded on the radio and gave people time to climb to higher ground. But not everyone escaped," said Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Amateur video footage from Samoa showed demolished villages and cars stuck in treetops where they had been hurled by the force of the wave.
Later on Wednesday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre cancelled a tsunami watch for Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia after a second 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
EU sends aid to Asian typhoon victims
In a separate move, the European Commission announced two million euros ($2.9 million) of emergency humanitarian aid to help the victims of typhoon Ketsana in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
This comes on top of a similar sum provided for the Philippines, the country that was worst hit by the typhoon.
"These initial fast-track funds are for basic emergency needs but we recognise that people may need humanitarian support for some time after this tragedy. We are ready to boost our support further, if required," said EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Karel De Gucht.
Ketsana has killed over 300 people since Saturday, with the Philippines worst hit with up to 246 dead, according to figures released on Wednesday.
The European Commission's humanitarian aid department has deployed a rapid response team to Vietnam where Ketsana has destroyed or damaged an estimated 190,000 homes.
"We need to get help to the affected people as quickly as possible which is why we are mobilising more financial and human resources," de Gucht said.
nk/Reuters/dpa/AP/AFP
Editor: Michael Lawton