School bus caught in tsunami - American Samoa

The tsunami hit with such devastating speed (only 12 minutes between the earthquake and the approximately 46 foot wave that battered their coastline), that many were caught unawares. I heard about a bus driver slamming down the gas pedal as he was trying to evacuate the children from the primary school. The wave caught them and threw the bus into the trees. He rushed the kids up the hill to safety when the second wave hit - taking one of the adult chaperones helplessly out to sea.

The bridge had been swept away, hampering rescue efforts. Injured and emergency supplies had to be transported across the river by canoe and kayaks.

Another nearby village called Amanave was saved by their well trained mayor who got out his megaphone and hurried the villagers to safety immediately after the quake. Others didn't fair so well with 39 dying on this island and hundreds more in Western Samoa. They say the first wave was smaller and swept many fish onto the shore. Children who didn't know better ran out to pick up the fish and were swept away by the larger second wave.

The locals say they are fortunate that they are accustomed to natural disasters and knew what to do. They already live off of the bountiful fruit and produce of this fertile land. I don't know how fortunate I'd feel in their sandals. The fact that they are smiling and rebuilding so quickly is testament to not only a great people but a great God that has sustained them through this hardship.

This Christmas Intersections Inc. of American Samoa (a part of the YWAM network of ministries) is sponsoring an event for the Tsunami survivor children of Amanave, American Samoa. Your gift of 20$ will provide a Christmas dinner and gift for a child of this village that was destroyed by the tsunami.
Visit: http://intersectionsweb.com

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Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• American
• Samoa
• Tsunami
• Survivors
• children
• Christmas
• wreckage
• miracle
• YWAM
• Intersections
• CTY