Reports from Samoa's capital city of Apia said at least one person had drowned after being washed out to sea, but the death could not be confirmed.

Three people in the American Samoa village of Fagasa were also swept out to sea, but managed to make it safely back to shore.

The Samoan Ministry of Health, in a precautionary move, recalled all nursing staff to duty because of "the high emergency alert".

Wind gusts in excess of 160 kilometers per hour (100mph) pounded the South Pacific islands, uprooting trees and disrupting electricity supplies and telephone services.

Driving was treacherous, with roads cut by swollen streams, and along the coast powerful waves tossed boulders and other debris on main routes.

The Samoa Meteorology Division warned of squally thunder storms and isolated flooding, with an anticipated high surf surge up to eight metres high.

"Very destructive" winds of 95-130 kph with gusts up to 169kph were forecast to hit the main island of Savai'i.

"The public are strongly advised to take necessary precautions for safety, especially those who live along the beaches," the forecast warning said.

At Poloa in American Samoa, a family of four managed to pack two suitcases of belongings before fleeing as their beach house was washed away.

Other residents who evacuated the village were later forced to move again as the winds were too powerful to remain in elevated areas.

Electricity workers delayed repairing downed power lines until the morning for safety reasons, leaving many areas in total darkness.

Pago Pago International Airport in American Samoa and all airports in Samoa were closed, as were sea ports, with Samoa Shipping Corporation staff called out to sail their inter-island fleet out to sea to prevent them being smashed against wharves.

Cyclone Heta, the first tropical cyclone of the season and the first to hit Samoa in more than a decade, is expected to continue travelling southeast and would be close to the islands of northern Tonga and Niue by late Tuesday.

If winds continued above 145kph, Samoa's telephone contact with the outside world would be cut.

"Our satellite dish at Maluafou will be stored in a safe position to minimise potential damage. This will unfortunately result in the loss of international incoming and outgoing telecommunications links," SamoaTel, which has the landline monopoly, said.

TERRA.WIRE