Si’umu is a village on the central south coast ofUpolu island inSamoa. The population is 1183.[1] There is also a sub-village Siumu Uta which has a population of 304.[1]
Siumu Electoral Constituency (Faipule District) comprise the villages of Siumu, Siumu Uta, Maninoa and Saaga.[2] The constituency has a total population of 2,349 and is part of the larger political districtTuamasaga.[1]
On 5 October 2024 theRoyal New Zealand Navy shipHMNZSManawanui ran aground and sunk off the coast of Siumi while surveying a nearby reef during a storm.[5][6] The sinking of theManawanui has polluted the surrounding sea and disrupted the livelihoods of local Samoan villagers, who were unable to fish.[7][8] The Samoan and New Zealand authorities were criticised by local villagers for a lack of compensation and engagement with local communities.[9] This led local villagers to seek financial assistance from the Chinese Embassy inApia.[10]
On 12 February 2025 the Samoan Government lifted a "precautionary zone" around the wreckage of HMNZSManawanui following testing by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS). However, a twokm prohibition zone around the sunken ship remained in force.[11]
