Today, Thursday 8 October 2009 (Friday NZ/Aust time) Samoa declares as a National Day of Mourning for those who lost their lives in the devastating tsunami which followed an 8.3 magnitude earthquake which struck on Tuesday 29th September 2009.
A public memorial service will take place at Apia Park where 10 caskets will solemnly be ushered in by a national Samoan police guard and will lie in state for the duration of the service which will kick off at 5pm (NZ time) today. The service is scheduled to run for two hours, after which the caskets will be taken to the mass burial site.