Lesson in tsunami, says Samoa PM

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Television image of a boat dumped into a tree as the tsunami hit Samoa. [ABC]

Last Updated: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:24:00 +1100

The Samoan prime minister says last month's tsunami has convinced coastal residents of the risks of living so close to the ocean.

The devastating September 30 tsunami was several metres high in places when it hit the coasts of the Samoan islands and Tonga.

Many Samoans who once lived along the beach are still in the hills, fearful of returning to their homes.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele says people living in low-lying areas are at risk of tsunami and rising sea levels - and the movement of residents away from the coastline is a plus.

"We have been talking about this for years, and it requires only eight minutes of the tsunami to convince some of our people that the most safest area will be to move inland," the Prime Minister said.

The United States has announced it is giving $US25 million to American Samoa to help with the tsunami clean-up and rebuilding process.