Tsunami Hits American Samoa After Massive Earthquake

Survivors fled to higher ground on the islands of Samoa and American Samoa after the magnitude 8.0 quake struck. The residents then were engulfed by four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high that reached up to a mile inland. (Lucy Sagapolu)

The Samoan capital, Apia, was a muddy mess of debris. Cars and boats -- many battered and upside down and dropped between palm trees -- littered the coastline. (Lucy Sagapolu)

The quake was centered about 120 miles south of the islands of Samoa, which has about 220,000 people, and American Samoa, a U.S. territory of 65,000. (Lucy Sagapolu)

A destroyed chapel in Samoa. (Lucy Sagapolu)

<b>Sept. 29: </b>A pickup truck lies under a pile of rubble from a business structure in Pago Pago, American Samoa after tsunami waves swept ashore. A powerful Pacific Ocean earthquake spawned towering tsunami waves that hit Samoa and American Samoa, flooding and flattening villages, killing at least 99 people and leaving dozens missing. (AP)

<b>Sept. 29: </b>People walk among a scene of devastation following a powerful earthquake in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa. The quake in the South Pacific hurled massive tsunami waves at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people back out to sea while leaving scores dead and dozens missing. (AP2009)

Sept. 29: The aftermath of a Tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake is seen in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa.  (AP2009)

Sept. 29: The aftermath of a Tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake is seen in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa.  (AP2009)

Sept. 29: People walk among a scene of devastation following a powerful earthquake in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa. The quake in the South Pacific hurled massive tsunami waves at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people back out to sea while leaving scores dead and dozens missing. (AP2009)

Sept. 29: People walk among a scene of devastation following a powerful earthquake in Pago Pago village, on American Samoa. The quake in the South Pacific hurled massive tsunami waves at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people back out to sea while leaving scores dead and dozens missing. (AP2009)

<b>Sept. 29: </b>Oceanographer Dr. David Walsh studies earthquake charts at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center  in Ewa Beach, Hawaii on Oahu. 

<b>Sept. 29:</b>A main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo, is seen flooded by water from a tsunami located in the main town area in American Samoa. ( )

<b>Sept. 29: </b>A boat from Malaloa Marina is seen on the edge of the main highway in the village of Fagatogo, in American Samoa. ( )

<b>Sept. 29:  </b>A car is seen pushed up against a bridge after strong sea water from the tsunami filled a small stream in the village of Fagatogo, located in the main town area in American Samoa.

<b>Sept. 29: </b>Lila Livingston, an office administrator at the American Samoa Government office in Honolulu speaks on the phone, taking calls from Samoans in Hawaii and around the world.

The streets and fields of Pago Pago filled with ocean debris, mud, overturned cars and several boats as a massive cleanup effort stretched into the night. (Lucy Sagapolu)

Several buildings in the city of Pago Pago were flattened.

Survivors fled the waves for higher ground on the South Pacific islands after the magnitude 8.0 quake struck at 6:48 a.m. local time Tuesday.

Four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high roared ashore on American Samoa about 15 minutes after the quake, reaching up to a mile inland.