'We fled in a hurry... it is real'

Tsunami in Samoa

1 of 65

JOHN SELKIRK Zoom

The stench of rotting flesh is overpowering along the stretch of coast devastated by the Tsunami.

Tsunami causes havoc in Samoa

Related Links

At least two Australians dead in tsunami Air NZ adds seats to Samoa flight following tsunami

Relevant offers

South Pacific

Bainimarama takes swipe at NZ Cyclone Jasmine flooding Tonga Tonga declares cyclone warning Two cyclones growing in Pacific PNG ferry survivors 'call from island' PNG ferry survivors battled to stay alive 126 missing, 246 saved after PNG ferry sinks Turmoil in Tonga over 'two-faced' McCully comment 7.1 earthquake shakes Vanuatu New Fiji storms kill man

Samoa resident Bill Martin shares the terror of the earthquake and tsunami which have hit the Pacific islands.

"Today is Tuesday 29 September here, 30 September for the rest of he world, a solstice is it, end of a financial quarter? We all fled in a hurry, running from central Apia. It is real this time.

No-one here is concerned about the solstice or finance or events which may be relevant to the outside world. We awoke to a beautiful morning. As I got out of the shower it hit.

Run I said to my wife - get out of the house quick. We went outside and I grabbed a sheet to get wear - it was stuck in the door as it closed behind me. It all shook, shook, shook, the house moved, not just rattled, moved and the ground was shaking us, the trees.

How long did it last!

Off to work at 7am and then the siren - strange.

I am writing this from high safe ground. But I am separated from my wife - the phones are jammed - she should be home safely if it is real. We have had practice before - with advance warning so many stayed home.

As I hurried out of the office and half-heartedly ran, a police van drives past yelling in Samoan, it is real. I look behind - others do the same - there is no wave - someone says it is coming - we run all the faster in the heat.

On the north coast we all seem to have made it but the news is not out - we hear little - no English.

From our safe perch the adults are very sombre. The news comes in - three kids dead, and a lady left home while her husband drives kids to school. My friend - all his families' fales gone but the family is safe. Villages wiped out.

We wait and wait and look to sea - the ships and yachts have left the harbour, the tide goes down - nothing comes. The news on radios around me is in Samoan - I don't know what is really occurring out there.

At 11.15am the news trickles through it is safe to go back to town - the place is deserted - a ghost town no-one is in the office.

This is a small country - they will be all attending to their families' and friends' need. They will be praying that their loved ones on the south coast have survived."

- © Fairfax NZ News