British child, 2 dies in tsunami.

Byline: Edward Chadwick

A TWO-year-old British child was killed in Samoa after a huge tsunami hit the country, claiming the lives of at least 90 people.

British backpackers were also feared to be caught up in the disaster after the tsunami hit the South Pacific island.

Stephen Rogers, the British honorary consul in Samoa, said the child had been reported missing after the tsunami struck.

"The parents are staying at the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa. They've made contact with the British High Commission in New Zealand," he added.

Later the Foreign Office confirmed the child, who has not yet been named, had died.

Dr Rogers said he had no further information about the family.

At least 90 people were killed after an earthquake triggered a tsunami that swept ashore on Samoa and American Samoa. Dozens of others were reported missing after the huge waves tore through villages, leaving a trail of devastation. The tremor, with a magnitude of between 8 and 8.3, struck early yesterday, about 120 miles from American Samoa., a US territory which is home to 65,000 people.

Locals were being warned to head to high ground amid fears that a second set of waves could hit the shoreline. The tremor happened 120 miles from the coast of American Samoa. Waves measuring up to 20 feet high roared ashore soon afterwards, demolishing buildings up to a mile inland from the coast. Cars and people were swept out to sea by the fast-churning water as survivors fled. Signs of devas tation were everywhere, with a giant boat washed ashore and coming to rest on the edge of a road and floodwaters swallowing up cars and homes.

A reporter in Apia said: "There's another warning of another tsunami, people are running for higher ground." The reporter was broadcasting live as police sounded sirens behind him to warn people to flee. New Zealander Graeme Ansell said the beach village of Sau Sau Beach Fale on Samoa was levelled.

CAPTION(S):

Devastating floods: The huge trail of destruction caused by the Pacific earthquake and tsunami is clearly visible in Pago, in American Samoa. Emergency: Workers and residents in Fagatogo village try to escape.