30 May 2016

American Samoan collect bodies from morgue

1:23 pm on 30 May 2016
LBJ hospital, American Samoa

LBJ hospital, American Samoa Photo: RNZI

The morgue at American Samoa's hospital says it has released 18 of the 32 bodies in the morgue after telling authorities it was running out of room.

The LBJ Hospital CEO, Taufete'e John Faumuina, says by Thursday last week 11 families had collected their loved ones and by Friday seven more were collected.

The hospital says one unclaimed deceased is from overseas and the family, from the West Coast of the United States, has been informed.

The family says it is not in a position to assist and the hospital is reviewing the best way to ensure a dignified burial.

Taufete'e says the problem of unclaimed bodies is not a common event.

He says the morgue was not filled to capacity, as previously reported.