Rome, Italy, Oct 1, 2009 / 14:27 pm
Caritas of Samoa has launched an intense relief effort to help those affected by the tsunami that hit the region on Tuesday and left more than 100 dead.
According to the SIR news agency, medical assistance is being provided at the Catholic Institute in Longoipulotu, the largest city on the island of Savai’i, which is one of the main islands that make up Samoa.
SIR also reported that the offices of Caritas in Samoa and Tonga were hit by the tsunami that was caused by the 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Caritas of Samoa is offering temporary shelters to those most affected.
Caritas of Italy has also offered to send aid and is maintaining constant contact with Caritas officials in Samoa.
In related news, more than 500 people were killed on Wednesday when a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck near the Indonesian port city of Padang. The initial quake was followed by a Thursday morning aftershock registering 6.6 on the Richter scale.