Cyclone Gita damage

Price gouging concerns as American Samoa recovers from Gita

Retailers are being reminded it's illegal to raise the price of certain consumer goods by 10 percent or more after the declaration of a state of emergency.

The territory's governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, declared a state of emergency last Friday as the devastating winds and heavy rain from Gita began impacting the main island of Tutuila.

Soon after this reports surfaced of price gouging at some stores.

The price gouging law requires businesses to provide proof a price rise is not "unfair".

 

Photo by Pacific Roots/Twitter

     

Eight hundred still in shelters in American Samoa

Yesterday US President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for the territory.

RNZI reports most of the shops in the capital of Pago Pago were closed or heavily damaged.

Nearly 800 people, including elderly and children, remained in emergency accommodation.

Schools will remain closed for the whole week.

Some of the evacuees may have to be moved into churches temporarily.