Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — There is conflicting information from the Manu’a High School administration , after a public notice was posted on Facebook concerning the Segaula Manu’a High School, giving families the option to “transfer their children” to attend schools on Tutuila.

This is a result of the earthquake swarm related to the Manu’a Island group.

However when contacted for a comment, Principal Fa’atoese Tauanu’u said the post on the high school’s official Facebook was made by the Vice Principal Uluiva Tauanu’u.

“She has been asked to remove that from the High School’s Facebook page as it has not been approved by the Department of Education,” said Principal Tauanu’u.

Samoa News made repeated efforts to get comments from Vice Principal Uluiva Tauanu’u on this issue but it has been unsuccessful.

A statement posted by the Manu’a High School in Samoan is addressed to students of Segaula.

“In line with the notice from the Secondary School, for this new school year, students of Segaula will start their courses on Tuesday 6 September, 2022.

“If there are any parents that are worried for the safety of their children it has been advised by AD Dottie Tuisamatatele they can be transferred to attend schooling in Tutuila. However for students that will be attending school in Manu’a we will see you next week.

“Please contact Principal Tauanu’u at 677-3512 for more information and if your child will not be attending school next week,” says the public notice.

Principal Tauanu’u told Samoa News that that information is “inaccurate” and they have been in contact with the DOE and this matter has been “settled” and the post should have been removed from the school’s Facebook page.

Last week during the town hall meeting in Ofu and Olosega Lt Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale said the plan is to proceed with opening of schools and operating in Manu’a, but it’s all subject to what happens and the results of the tests conducted by scientists.

“We have to be in limbo in these kinds of situations and be ready to adjust to change. I know that a lot of students here in Manu’a had moved to Tutuila and I don’t know if they are there for a long period or just for the summer.

“The expectation is that everyone will come back and then we’ll have schools as best as we can and we will continue to monitor any sudden changes in situations and will adjust accordingly.

“We are also looking as part of the evacuation plans on how to accommodate students in the event we have to have a mass evacuation, with schools in Tutuila and so forth, but for now, based on what I know here in Manu’a we’re hoping to have schools open,” said Talauega.

UPDATE FROM USGS

According to the US Geology Survey, activity has not changed significantly since yesterday’s daily update. Data from the new seismometers confirm that the location of earthquakes has not moved for many days.

“This tells us that the cause of the earthquakes has not shifted within the earth. 

“The American Samoa Emergency Operations Center did not receive any felt reports for the past 24 hours. However, the USGS seismic network detected at least 30 earthquakes that were large enough to be felt by people on the Manuʻa Islands.

“The largest event occurred at 12:56 AM SST today (Monday). There are many more small earthquakes that are undetectable by humans.”

In the coming weeks, USGS staff will install Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to improve the Manuʻa Islands’ monitoring network. The GPS equipment will detect very slight movements of the ground. “As a result, GPS data will help us better understand what is happening beneath the ground and provide more accurate hazard assessments.” 

On Sunday, USGS and NOAA National Weather Service staff met with the Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for the Office of Insular and International Affairs. Discussion included the ongoing earthquakes at Taʻu Island, natural hazard monitoring in the Pacific Islands, and ways to encourage local youth to become interested in becoming scientists.