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.

More tales of survival and tragedy emerge from the tsunami battered islands.

Na toetoe ina tutulu le Palemia a Samoa Afioga Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi i le po anapo a o fai lana saunoaga i le atunuu.

Members of Parliament are working alongside members of the public as a huge international relief effort gets under way in Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa’s Prime Minister was near tears last night as he addressed his tsunami-hit nation.

Andy and Angie Belcher didn't even have time to unpack their bags before the tsunami hit.

As day breaks the clean-up begins in the coastal area of south-east Upolu Island, which bore the brunt of the post-quake sea surge.

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

A journalist with the Samoan Observer describes the fear and heartbreak as the terrible events unfolded.

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

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.