Bad weather in recent days on Upolu and Savai’i have led to villagers living close to the shore expressing fears of flooding and being forced to relocate by storm surges. 

A number of residents of Sataoa Tai village are worried about their homes, crops and livestock as they experienced bad weather last Friday that triggered storm surges that threatened to flood their homes.

They are concerned that the seawalls that have been constructed along the shoreline to protect their homes were no match for the pounding waves.

Falamale Aiavao, a retired church minister, told the Samoa Observer that he is worried as the waves came straight for their home.

"I don't know why they built the sea wall like this, with a gap in the middle leaving us unprotected,” he said in an interview. 

“We ask the government to consider building a good seawall for us to protect our homes. 

“We have land to move into but we have spent so much money on our homes on the coast.

“Perhaps a seawall will help us stay here while we build homes further inland. 

“I don't know what to do, the tides are coming from all sides.”

A 79-year-old village resident, Faleono Vai said that she did not understand why the sea wall was built in such a way, which has left their homes vulnerable.

"I am puzzled as to why they left a gap in the sea wall so that leaves the EFKS church and the Maota o Siulepa vulnerable to destructive tides," she said.

"In the past there were no such waves and the homes were safe, now we are more affected because of the seawall, if they fix the seawall then our homes will be guarded.”

Another resident, Maiava Asafo Mamoe told the Samoa Observer that his concerns are that most homes affected also have food and crops planted in the area, and the affected residents don’t have alternative homes to move to.

"The sea is not just coming towards us, even the water creeps up from behind us as the sea level rises like this Friday so we have no protection," he said.

"Our crops were affected three years ago so the Member of Parliament at the time was going to propose a 3-meter wall for the protection of the families, but he did not win the election as he is a Human Rights Protection Party member. 

"So we plead with the FAST Government to help us build a seawall to protect our livelihoods and our homes while we rebuild homes on our lands further back from the sea so that we can shift to them.”

Further down the south coast of Upolu villagers pointed out the damage to their roads with saltwater and sand flung all over the seal road.

“And when it was high tide on Friday morning, the waves covered the roads as we drove by,  that can't be good for the vehicles," Sitivi of Lalomanu said. 

"The walls that protect the homes from the tidal waves are slowly being eaten away by the high seas and surging waves.” 

In Savai’i a local businessman and resident of Salelologa told the Samoa Observer that the villages of Satupaitea and Gautavai were affected badly. 

"There was not much damage here at Salelologa but there were high waves which went onto the road at Satupaitea and Gautavai," he said. 

According to Samoa’s Meteorological Service, large waves and gusty winds continue to persist across Samoa, primarily impacting low-lying coastal areas with the waves generated by strong winds.

"Such is due to the intense high-pressure system centred southeast whereby direct fresh to strong easterly winds, and thus generates high waves and swells of 3.5-4 metres or more, over our marine waters." 

Local environmentalist James Atherton told the Samoa Observer that during such weather patterns it is also important to contact the M.E.T Division. 

"It is not always good to blame climate change for all unusual weather or tidal patterns,” he said. 

“There are sometimes natural but rare tidal situations with combinations of unusual and unfortunate moon and weather patterns. 

“It would be good to hear from the MET office as they are the experts.”