Death toll in Samoas tsunami reaches 150 APIA, Samoa - Stunned Samoans combed through the sodden wreckage of their lives and told of the terror of being trapped underwater or flung inland by a tsunami that ravaged towns and killed at least 150 people in the South Pacific. Federal officials rush to help tsunami victims APIA, Samoa - Federal disaster officials say "tens of thousands" of people on American Samoa and Samoa will need their help after a lethal tsunami in the South Pacific. Huge earthquake shakes Tonga region of Pacific A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 rocked Tonga in the Pacific, however damage was minimal and initial tsunami warnings for the South Pacific were withdrawn within two hours.