2 deaths reported as Cyclone Evan rips through Samoan islands
Infrared image of Cyclone Evan over the Samoan islands Thursday.
December 13th, 2012
09:09 AM ET
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2 deaths reported as Cyclone Evan rips through Samoan islands

Tropical Cyclone Evan is battering Samoa and American Samoa in the South Pacific with wind gusts up to 130 mph, heavy rain and pounding surf.

The National Weather Service in Pago Pago issued hurricane and high surf warnings for the islands as well as a flash flood watch.

There were reports of two deaths from the storm in Samoa, an independent country with a population of 183,000. American Samoa is a U.S. territory with a population of about 55,000.

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Filed under: Fiji • Samoa • Tropical weather • Weather
Double your birthday fun after Samoa time-zone move
Samoa's prime minister says tourists can double celebrations by holding them once on each side of the international date line.
May 9th, 2011
08:32 AM ET
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Double your birthday fun after Samoa time-zone move

Got a special day you'd like to celebrate twice next year? Say your birthday or maybe that 25th wedding anniversary.

Then book a trip to the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific, where, come 2012, you can redo the previous 24 hours with just a 30-minute flight.

The Cabinet of Samoa last week approved a plan to move the islands of that nation to the western side of the international dateline. But the islands that make up American Samoa, a U.S. territory, will remain to the east of the dateline. The islands are a little more than 80 miles apart.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the change is necessary to facilitate business, as his country conducts most of its commerce with New Zealand, Australia, China and Southeast Asian nations.

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Filed under: Samoa • Time zones • Travel