Apia, Samoa: The Accident Compensation Corporation of Samoa (ACC) had started distributing compensation to the victims of the tsunami disaster.

Chief Executive Officer Malaeulu Lose Niumati said they are investigating many cases.

He said 20 deaths have been confirmed and compensation for those people has already been given to the families. “This section of the ACC Act we’ve used is the same as the one used in the time of hurricane Ofa and Valerie,” he said.

Families of dependant victims like children will receive $3000 (US$1, 222) each.  But where breadwinners have been lost they will be given $7,500 (US$3, 057)

Mr Malaeulu said the families have to get confirmation in the form of death certificates from the court before it they can claim compensation.