The 8.0 magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific that set off the deadly tsunami Tuesday, Sept. 29, brought tragedy to many in Seattle's sizable Samoan and American Samoan community, including those who met the following day at the South Park Neighborhood Center.

The Samoan American Pacific Organization gathers twice a week in South Park. Some attend in traditional colorful dress, and some women wear hibiscus flowers in their hair and sometimes there is dancing. At this gathering, however, sadness punctured the bright array of colors as about 50 people compared notes about loved ones who died and others unreachable by phone due to the flooding.

American Samoa has been a United States territory since 1900. The independent state of Samoa is located about 50 miles west of American Samoa and was called Western Samoa until 1997. The organization has members from both Samoa and American Samoa, and both island groups suffered from the tsunami.

The organization's secretary, Tamate Ilaoa, moved here from American Samoa 22 years ago. He has a son is stationed in the army at Fort Hood, Texas, and his daughter-in-law and grandkids are back in American Samoa.

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Ilaoa said, "I phoned my son and we can't get a hold of my son's wife and my grandkids back home." However, he reached his family in American Samoa since then and everyone is safe. "They were smart and moved to higher ground in time," he said.

"I lost my niece," said a tearful Freda Tauinaola, also from American Samoa. "She just went back home last Sunday after visiting me here in Seattle. That’s why it is hurting me. She was 39 years old and had three boys. It is very hard because she was a very good lady inside the family. She worked for American Samoa's government social services and was a very good lady who helped a lot."

"My sister died," said Benina Tinae, of Samoa. I just received the phone call last night from back home. Her name was Metotisi Selesele. She was in her 50’s. I have not seen her in 10 years. My other two sisters are safe there."

Leota Peter Strickland is the president of the Samoan American Pacific Organization. He said he heard the earthquake may have reached 8.3 magnitude and with the 15 to 20 foot wave he was worried about other family members belonging to the 60 members.