Disaster officials have been rushing food, medicine and a temporary morgue to the Samoas after a powerful earthquake unleashed a tsunami that flattened villages and swept cars and people out to sea. At least 99 people were killed. Survivors fled the waves for higher ground on the South Pacific islands after the magnitude 8.0 quake. Four tsunami waves four to six metres high roared ashore on American Samoa about 15 minutes after the quake, reaching up to 1.5 kilometres inland. Military transports carrying medical personnel, food, water, medicines and other supplies were headed to the stricken islands.