Natural disasters hit hard around the world

Posted on October 08, 2009 by Chelsea Bower

In the past two weeks, the world has seen a series of devastating natural disasters that have killed thousands. Floodwaters damage the southeast United States and mudslides caused 21 deaths in Italy, according to cnn.com. Over 300 were killed from the effects of several typhoons that have destroyed the Philippines, according to bbc.co.uk. Indonesia and the Samoan islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga were two of the most devastated regions of the world.

Over 1,100 people are dead and nearly 4,000 were buried under rubble in Indonesia after two earthquakes hit the country on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, according to cnn.com. Both earthquakes occurred in the same region of the country. The first earthquake was measured at 7.6 on the Richter scale and was followed by a 6.6-magnitude quake the next morning, according to cnn.com

Areas that once contained villages and small cities have been disintegrated into flat rubble. Hospital staff worked adjacent to the collapsed hospital building as corpses remained in makeshift morgues. With each passing day the scope of the devastation grows, according to cnn.com

President Barack Obama pledged his support for aid.

"We will do everything we can to help alleviate their suffering and provide assistance to the relief operation," Obama said to the Indonesian president, according to a White House statement.

Several organizations including the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, the Red Cross, the U.N. and World Vision Indonesia are searching for survivors and distributing care-packages. (recovery)

Search and rescue efforts halted Oct. 5 and recovery efforts are ongoing.

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake shook the Samoan islands on Sept. 29.  The earthquake caused the tsunami that left over 165 people dead, according to usatoday.com. Of the over 165 dead, 31 are from American Samoa, a U.S. territory.

"There is complete devastation of several villages. There are families without anything. Everything has been washed away," Prime Minister of the Samoas Tuilaepa Malielegaoi said.

The only building still standing is a church. While survivors search for their belongings, stray dogs roam the rubble in search of food. The infrastructure of American Samoa lies in ruins while locals receive relief that will help them rebuild their lives, according to usatoday.com.

Relief efforts began in American Samoa with Hawaiian Airlines distributing care packages of bottled water and rice to locals. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand sent supplies and troops to the area, including a U.S. Navy frigate carrying two helicopters used in search-and-rescue efforts.

The United States Navy and Coast Guard also distributed food and other care items, according to cnn.com.