8 LDS Church members among those killed by tsunami

Eight LDS Church members are among the more than 100 people who have been confirmed dead during second-day recovery and relief efforts in the Samoan islands after an 8.3-magnitude earthquake Tuesday morning in the south Pacific Ocean spawned a deadly tsunami.

All but two of the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the affected area have been accounted for, with contact hampered by limited communication, said LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter.

The two are a pair of local sister missionaries from the Tonga Nuka'alofa Mission serving on the Tongan island of Niutoputapu, which borders Samoa. Efforts to communicate with people on the island have not been successful, although church leaders continue to work with government officials to make contact.

"The church is assessing the situation in Samoa and the surrounding area following the earthquake and tsunami there," Trotter said. "Efforts are under way to determine the church's humanitarian response, including coordination with government and disaster relief organizations."

As of Wednesday afternoon, 111 people were confirmed dead in the affected areas — Samoa reporting 82 deaths, American Samoa 22 and Tonga 7.

Preliminary reports have eight LDS Church members among the deceased, with another two injured.

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