The recent earthquake and devastating tsunami affecting Samoa, American Samoa and northern Tonga brought forward several shining examples of radio broadcasting dedication in the face of extreme danger. At least 77 people were reported dead in Samoa, more than 25 in American Samoa and at least six in Tonga.

The Radio Heritage Foundation has surveyed stations in the area and identified several brave radio broadcasters who helped keep emergency services on air during the disaster in an effort to save lives.

In Pago Pago, American Samoa, the morning DJ at KKHJ-FM felt the earthquake and activated emergency warnings immediately. Lupe Lohmann (pictured) then broadcast calls for residents to head for higher ground.

By the time she realized that a tsunami was heading up Pago Pago harbor towards the studios, it was too late for her to leave. She stayed on the air as surging waters smashed into the ground floor

Click here to listen to her interview with BBC Radio describing the events.

Photos of the devastation caused by the tsunami are at the KKHJ-FM website www.khjradio.com. The station is now broadcasting from temporary studios at its transmitter site.

Across in independent Samoa, another announcer, Epati Tamati, also stayed on duty as the earthquake struck the islands.

Radio 2AP broadcasts at 540AM from sea level near the capital, Apia, and Epati felt the earthquake and also realized a tsunami was likely. He chose to stay on the air, accepting hundreds of calls from worried and frightened listeners and broadcasting emergency messages. His story is covered by the New Zealand Herald.

Since the earthquake, the staff of Radio Polynesia have been broadcasting from makeshift studios in the hills behind Apia, close to their transmitter complex.

Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia also played a big part in covering the events of the Pacific during the Tsunami and issuing warnings to listeners in the region.