Gov Lemanu declares the territory in State of Disaster Emergency

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Government has declared a State of Disaster Emergency for the territory via Executive Order over the earthquakes felt in Ta’u, Manu’a.

This was confirmed as Executive Order 008-22 was issued on Wednesday by Governor Lemanu Peleti Sialega Mauga.

“The facts and evidence that have been gathered so far have supported a compelling reason to prioritize the protection of life and property. By signing this Executive Order, I want to ensure that all local resources are made available to respond efficiently and effectively in case these eruptions worsen.

“I want to recognize and commend the first responders that are on the ground and have been standing by in Manu’a. Many of them have been mobilized to assist with displaced villagers and guarantee the safety of all evacuees,” said Lemanu in his Executive Order.

Governor Lemanu visited the Manu’a islands on August 15, 2022 to meet with village council members and residents regarding the issue of the recent seismographic activities surrounding the islands.

The Governor was accompanied by directors from the Department of Health, Motusa Nua, Department of Homeland Security Director Samana Ve’ave’a, Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Director Taotasi Soliai, Department of Education Deputy Director Roxanne Salave’a, and Governor’s Office staffer Sualevai Sualevai, says a statement issued earlier in the week.

Upon arrival, Governor Lemanu was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security in Manu’a who said that the scientists and NOAA researchers had completed their assessments at that time. Their findings lean towards the conclusion that the recent seismographic activities are not primarily caused by the Vailulu’u seamount, American Samoa’s most active submarine volcano.

However, they do not rule out that the cause for these tremors is due to perhaps other volcanic activity in the vicinity of the Manu’a islands.

Earlier Faleasao officials had voiced that the villagers would need a consistent water supply on the mountainside, where there is currently none, to support evacuating further inland. In the villages of Ofu and Olosega, their main concern was improving escape routes to higher ground, making them accessible by vehicles.

 “The last major volcanic eruption near Manu’a was dated back in the1860s, before any of us or our parents and grandparents were alive. I commend you all for evacuating to higher ground; you have taken the proper precautions and reacted to protecting your lives first.”

Adding that this has been a great opportunity to hear concerns as in Tutuila, they do not hear the booming sounds or feel the tremors as people in Manu’a are experiencing. 

 “We will respond quickly to the immediate actions needed to ensure a swift and safe evacuation from coastal villages, villages with only one main road, and villages that need a good water source at evacuation sites,” said the Governor.

The emergency declaration went into effect as of August 10, 2022 but was only issued publically yesterday when the Emergency Operations Center was activated due to multiple daily reports from residents of Ta’u, Ofu and Olosega, reporting a series of frequent tremors and crackling/booming sounds.

The statement reiterated that members of the public are reminded to immediately go to higher ground if a strong or long earthquake is felt, if they observe a sudden drop or rise of sea level, or hear a loud roar from the ocean.

The Public is also reminded to report any earthquakes or tremors they may have felt to the EOC and/or the National Weather Service Office in Pago Pago once they are in a safe place.

Governor Lemanu further explained that at this time, more off-island resources, Federal personnel, scientists, and equipment are on the way to assist in gathering more facts and information on locating the source of the seismicity and further explaining if these occurrences are linked to pre-eruption activity. Governor Lemanu also pointed out that our local resources have been mobilized to assist throughout the Manua islands.

The Department of Public Health has Behavioral and Mental Health physicians staged in both Ta’u and Ofu/Olosega, as well as various first responders from the Department of Public Safety and Department of Homeland Security, and the Search and Rescue Office. He said resources should arrive this week and be mobilized here to Manu'a as soon as possible.

In the latest bulletin issued by the US Geological Survey dated August 16, 2022 there were no significant changes over the past 24 hours.

“The earthquake swarm in the Manuʻa islands of American Samoa continues. Two microseismometers (earthquake-detecting devices) installed in Fitiʻuta village on Taʻū island on August 13 and Olosega village on August 14 are recording approximately 20 earthquakes per hour; most events are too small to be felt.

“Estimated magnitudes of the largest earthquakes, including the felt events, are between magnitude 2 and 3. Seismic data indicate that the source for these earthquakes is beneath the Manuʻa Islands, likely closer to Taʻū island rather than Ofu-Olosega, and is probably not related to Vailuluʻu seamount.”

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, accompanied by other ASG officials (left sitting at table) during a meeting with residents of Ta’u island earlier this week in Manu’a. On the right are residents who attended the meeting. The governor’s visit is to follow up on the recent seismic activity in the surrounding areas of Ta’u, Ofu, and Olosega  — prior to returning to Tutuila and declaring a disaster emergency. [photo: Gov’s Office]