The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is initiating relief efforts in the areas of Samoa and Indonesia affected by earthquakes and tsunamis earlier this week.

An 8.0 magnitude earthquake caused tsunami waves to crash into the coast of the Samoan Islands Tuesday morning, local time.

Students and staff of Samoa Adventist College were evacuated to a safer area.

Church leaders in the region reported five Adventists were killed after the tsunami hit, four of which were children. Total deaths for the Samoan region were 119.

"Our thoughts are with those who are still missing, and their loved ones who are waiting to hear from them," said Barry Oliver, president for the church in the South Pacific region.

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia Wednesday evening, local time, toppling buildings and causing landslides.

A second earthquake registering 6.6 hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra Thursday, local time, resulting in more than 500 deaths, the New York Times reported.

Reporting by Nadia McGill, South Pacific Division