Actress and psychologist Pamela Stephenson described the earthquake in Samoa as scary as hell.

Salamasina Taufua tried desperately to keep her 8-month-old baby above water before Samoa's tsunami forced her to let her go.

New Zealand tourists have told of their terror when the tsunami smashed through their Samoan beach resort.

The tsunami death toll reaches at least 149 as new tales of devastation emerge.

Many of the Kiwis in a Samoan hospital suffered internal injuries when struck by the seven metre high tsunami waves, says a NZ MP who visited them.

The Government has ordered a review after deeming New Zealand's response to yesterday's tsunami "not good enough".

Aid has begun arriving in Samoa in what will be an ongoing effort as the scale of devastation from the quake and tsunami becomes clear.

The death toll for tourists in Samoa could rise in some areas where the tsunami warning system may not have worked so well.

Residents and visitors in Samoa describe the terror of knowing what would be next after a massive quake rocked the tiny island nation

Salamasina Taufua was basking in the sun yesterday watching her three young children playing on the sand when a tsunami swept all three away.

A team of Army medics is flying to Samoa to join a civilian medical team that left NZ late last night as the death toll from the tsunami rises.

When the Fire Service called John Weatherley and told him there was a problem at home he thought his house must have burned down.