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.

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

Samoan teacher Kalolo Punefu says she feels lucky to be alive after wall of water destroyed her village.

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.

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.

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.

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

The death toll from this week's devastating tsunamis rose to at least 180 yesterday, as a fresh earthquake rattled the region around Samoa.

Lucky survivors of Samoa's deadly tsunami looked like they'd been "churned up in a mass of dirty washing machines" says a surgeon helping on the ground.