Tsunami Impact On Samoa
Tsunami Impact On Samoa
The Impact of the recent tsunami on Samoa and the opportunity for research and assistance.
New Zealand enjoys a special relationship with Samoa and it is at times of need that such friendship should be seen; times such as the recent tsunami.
The numbers outline that need. The death toll of 143 and 6 still missing when translated to Indonesia and the 2004 Asian Tsunami represents 156,000 and consequently appears to be comparable to the 2004 death toll in Indonesia of 120,000+. However, the economic impact of the Asian tsunami on Indonesia was 2% of GDP whereas Samoa is bracing itself for something between 15%-25% given that tourism represents 75% of it’s GDP. The flat sandy beaches on the southern coast of Upolu Island, the main island of Samoa, while being popular as resort locations also meant that tsunami were going to be larger and damage more extensive. And that is what seems to have happened.
In response, a team from Auckland University and the Faculty of Engineering, made up from researchers with the Resilient Organisations Group based at the School of Engineering, engineers from SPPEEx (The South Pacific Professional Engineers for Excellence) and GHD (a locally based International Engineering Consulting firm) went to assess what academics and engineers could do to assist.