Another day of earthshakes in Manu’a, causing anxiety to residents of the eastern group of islands. USGS Volcanologist Natalia Deligne who has just returned from Manu’a is keeping a close watch on the seismic readings.
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There are now two off island experts on volcanoes in the territory.
You’ve been hearing Natalia Deligne and just arrived last night is Dr Drew Downs, a geologist who focused on the history of earthquakes and volcanoes.
According to Dr Downs, there is a missionary account of volcanic activity in the Manu’a islands dating back to the 1860s”
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Taking note there that Dr Downs said the Missionary account of the 1860s was on the Manuan Islands themselves; not the underwater seamount known as Vailuluu, which was originally what local authorities anticipated when these reports first emerged last week.
Dr Downs explains the difference between the Vailulu’u seamount which has been active with in the last 20-30 years and that of the 1866 Missionary Account of the earthquake near the Manu’a Islands.
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Meanwhile Natalia Deligne said that based on the preliminary data they have from the seismographs that were set up in Fitiuta and Olosega over the weekend the chance for an actual eruption remains low.
More advanced equipment is expected to arrive this Thursday on the Hawaiian Airlines flight, but given the weight of the monitoring machines there may eb a delay in getting them to Manu’a as they can only be transported there by boat.
WEATHER A FACTOR
Weather has been quite heavy as of late, with high surf warnings issued since yesterday, but the weather should lighten up totowards the weekend.
Regardless, National Weather Service’s Elinor Lutu McMoore said that weather might play a significant factor in getting the equipment to Manu’a as it must be transported by boat, not plane, due to the large and heavy volume.
GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO MANU’A
Yesterday Governor Lemanu, DOH Director Motusa Tuileama Nua, Homeland Security Director Samana Semo Vea’vea and a delegation of officials visited Manu’a. A press release issued this afternoon, quotes Governor Lemanu saying, “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”.
The Governor added that off-island resources should arrive this week and be mobilized to Manu’a as soon as possible.
“As soon as my office receives more information, it will assist us in formulating effective strategies for keeping you safe.”
ASTCA REPAIRS
The American Samoa Telecommunications Authority has informed its customers in Manu’a of a scheduled maintenance which took place at 1 this afternoon,
weather permitting ASTCA aimed to harden and stabilize ifs services in the Manu’a islands during this critical time.
Due to seismic events that have taken place over the last few weeks, the cable link between Ta’u and Ofu islands has shifted.
“This will cause an ALL SERVICE outage until the maintenance is complete.”
