Sauniatu Waterfall Tragedy: Search mission find body of 19-year-old boy
2026-02-01 - 09:30
The family of a 19 year old boy from Pesega are mourning his death after he was washed away in a tragic swimming accident when the Sauniatu river burst on Saturday afternoon. The young man has been identified by his family and friends on social media as Kurtis Fepuleai. The young man had helped to run the King’s Baton Relay last week and social media is flooding with tributes and messages of condolences. A source from the village of Manunu told Samoa Global News the group had come to the popular Sauniatu waterfall for a swim, when heavy rain further uphill caused the river to burst. “O le taelega sa sau mai Apia, ae pa le vai. Na sao mai isi ae o si tama lea ua maliu ua tuai mai i luga ae ua vave le sau o le vai..” The village was alerted on Saturday at around 4-5pm in the afternoon to help with search and rescue efforts. The village joined the search for the boy from Manunu to Lalomauga, but were unsuccessful in difficult weather conditions. “We did not find him, the Sauniatu river was flowing too strong..” “But the family came back and pleaded for help to keep searching, so the village went back out early Sunday morning..” The search team of village matai and aumaga say they went right back up and began their search from Sauniatu where the boy and his friends had been swimming. According to the village rep who was part of the search mission, they found the boy’s body about 12pm today, behind a valley in Manunu. “Sa faatoā maua ua lata i se mea o le 12 i le aoauli.. na maua i tua o le vanu o loo iinei i Manunu..” In another water tragedy this month the body of 43 year old fisherman from Tiavea and Samusu remains lost at sea. Acting Commissioner Leiataua said four men went fishing on Friday night 23 January 2026 when heavy rain and rough seas caught them off guard. “Three men made it back safely but unfortunately, this tamaalii, the 43 year old father, did not.” Police and FESA have urged people to remain vigilant when swimming or fishing as Samoa is still in cyclone season – a period of heavy rain and flooding advisories.