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

Three adults and two children among those confirmed to have died in Wednesday's tragedy.

Oscar Kightley was home in Samoa this year as the people prepared for a tsunami - now he contemplates the challenge of rebuilding a nation.

Bad boy Dancing With The Stars judge Brendan Cole has caused international outrage by stoning a chicken to death on a TVNZ reality show.

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

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

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.

Parents blame themselves for child's death because they tried to flee torrent in a rental car instead of running for high ground, says a family friend.

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.

"I knew something was coming. Something in my head said: if the quake is that big, it means it was close."