“Some parts of Samoa are still under water following Tropical Cyclone Gita as emergency services struggle to clear roads and put back power on,” Radio New Zealand reported yesterday.
“Cyclone Gita wrought significant damage in both Samoa and American Samoa,” the report added.
All missionaries and other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been accounted for and are safe.
One young missionary, from Brisbane, Sister Chu Shing, injured her foot when she stood on a piece of metal. Fellow missionaries, Elder Liana (Hawaii) and Elder Mulipola (Savaii) carried her to higher ground.
Some Church meetinghouses are being used to provide shelter to those who cannot stay in their homes until flood-waters subside.
There have been reports of family and community vegetable gardens losing crops.
The Latter-day Saints’ service centre in Pesega—the faith’s hub for construction, humanitarian and other temporal affairs efforts in Samoa and American Samoa—was flooded and its septic tank breached. Fouled water supplies have also been reported in other locations.
The Church’s Ottoville Stake Centre in Pago Pago suffered damage to the roof of its cultural hall. Trees have fallen on some of the Church’s meetinghouse fences.
Church leaders in Samoa and American Samoa continue to work with government agencies to coordinate volunteer support in affected areas.
Read about Gita in Tonga here: