Salamasina Ale Taufua should be dead. She has bruises, deep cuts and welts on her body.

A NZ woman whose home and possessions were washed away by the tsunami found the looting that followed tougher to deal with.

The parents of two girls killed in Samoa's tsunami describe their ordeal as New Zealand's death toll rises to seven.

As the water receded Ioka Fa'aliga-Fauena Yi clutched the body of her lifeless baby, said a prayer and sucked his nose.

In the hills above the stricken south coast of Samoa, 49 people are huddled under one tarpaulin.

John Key last night voiced fears that the death toll in tsunami stricken Samoa could rise even higher with the outbreak of disease.

John Key has arrived in Samoa to see for himself the destruction caused by this week's earthquake and tsunami.

84-year-old South Auckland grandmother is among those confirmed dead.

Ana Lulai and Rachel Loane were cousins and best friends. They had just finished breakfast on Wednesday and were preparing for school. Then the waves hit.

A naked 84-year-old Lemafa Atia'e wasn't afraid as he clung for his life to his neighbour's steel house post while waves crashed over him.