TAFUNA, American Samoa — The tsunami that rushed ashore last week at the National Park of American Samoa damaged the visitors center, washed away some artifacts inside and forced workers to relocate to a two-bedroom apartment, authorities said Monday.

Nearly a week after an 8.3-magnitude earthquake and the resulting tsunami killed 176 people in the Samoas and Tonga, officials in American Samoa were still trying to assess the damage to the 22-square-mile coastal park, the only U.S. park located south of the equator.
“We haven’t been able to assess the actual condition of the park,” National Park Service spokeswoman Patti Wold said Monday.
The park’s personnel and volunteers were busy helping to remove debris in five villages, as well as from the park. The park has 13 workers and dozens of volunteers.
Waves swept through the park’s two-story headquarters building. The visitors center and the artifacts held inside were damaged. “We had some tapas, or fine mats. Those were damaged. And we were able to get one of the local weavers to repair those, and she brought those back just now,” she said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also helped restore water service to residents in the American territory and also coordinated the installation of more than 20 generators at shelters and sewer and water treatment plants.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency reported cleanup and recovery efforts were making significant progress following the Sept. 29 tsunami. American Samoa suffered 32 deaths, while 135 people were killed in Samoa and nine died in nearby Tonga.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have supplied survivors with more than 26,000 meals, 14,000 liters of water, 1,800 blankets and more than 800 cots.
At a national prayer service on Sunday, American Samoan Gov. Togiola Tulafono praised the generosity of residents and the Samoan spirit, which he said helped the community get through the disaster. He noted many have opened their homes to those who lost theirs.
“We can give thanks to the Lord for the blessings we received through this catastrophe. Although there were so many lives lost because of it, in retrospect, God has spared so many more,” he said.