Samoa ? Hundreds of villagers from a Samoan disaster zone gathered at church Sunday for belated funeral ceremonies — mourning victims of the South Pacific tsunami that obliterated entire communities and killed at least 176 people.

The Congregational Christian Church of Lalomanu was packed with about 1,000 people, including relatives from Australia and New Zealand and rescue workers for a service for 52 friends and loved ones.

The church was unscathed by the giant wave that struck on Tuesday, sparked by a powerful offshore earthquake, because it is built on higher ground than the many beachside homes that were destroyed.

Representatives of 10 families spoke of the 52 lost relatives who less than a week ago had been part of the congregation.

Along the southeast coast of the disaster zone, some damaged churches stood derelict while villagers gathered in others to pray. Samoa is a deeply Christian country where Sunday church services are an integral part of life.

On Tonga, government spokesman Lopeti Senituli said one-third of the houses on the island of Niuas have been destroyed, affecting more than 600 families.