Radio announcer Epati Tamati may have saved hundreds of lives by not budging from his waterfront studio when the Samoan earthquake struck.

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.

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

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

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.

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