17 Sep 2009

Samoa hotel fire under control

1:57 pm on 17 September 2009

Firefighters in Samoa are now controlling a blaze at Apia's Tanoa Tusitala hotel which caught fire while being closed for renovations.

It is not known what caused the fire, which has destroyed all traditional fales and damaged other sections of the complex that had been due to re-open in November.

Our correspondent, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, reports.

"They are now working on small firespots, trying to contain those firespots. There is no estimated costs of the damage. The chief fire officer says the police informed him that the fire was started from two different parts of the hotel but there is no indication of any suspicion of arson."