Arson suspected in Salelologa Fire

Apia, Samoa – 29 November 2024 – A major fire at the Salelologa wharf that destroyed 3 fishing vessels Wednesday night is suspected to be the work of a 13 year old boy.

Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said footage of the young boy was caught on camera of a nearby restaurant leaving the area where the vessels were docked  prior to the fire.

Auapaau said the boy was taken in for questioning at Tuasivii police station.

A senior Police officer at Tuasivi said the suspect is not in custody as reported earlier by the media.

“He is a juvenile,” the officer also wondered how the boy got into the dock as it is a secured area.

Destroyed vessels under Port Authority
The Samoa Port Authority (SPA) said the three fishing vessels destroyed in the fire were owned by the Apia Deep Sea Fishing (ADSF), a Chinese company.

Remains of the burnt fishing vessels.

But since the termination of the company’s lease in July 2024, the vessels had been abandoned and have since become the responsibility of SPA following the termination of their lease on the Apia International Port in July 2024 and that the ADSF company had abandoned the vessels.

All these fishing vessels were berthed at the Apia International Port since the ADSF left.

The Authority transferred all these fishing vessels from the Apia International Port to its other domestic ports at Satitoa Aleipata, Mulifanua and Salelologa in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October this year.

The statement further says SPA will compile its report and hand over to the police for investigation.

Families residing close to the site of the fire have been cautioned to take health issues seriously.

This is due to the smell of burnt rubber and gasoline from the fire.

Some of the residents said the smoke from the fire made it hard to breath and had to wait out in the open areas until the smoke subsided when the Fire Emergency Unit put the fire out.