Twin cyclones bear down on Island nations

Residents rushed to buy emergency supplies and tourists evacuated resorts yesterday as two powerful cyclones bore down on three Pacific Island nations.

In Samoa, winds from Cyclone Olaf were due to hit early this morning and worsen during the day.

The Cook Islands was in the path of Cyclone Nancy approaching from the north. It was forecast to hit the island of Aitutaki overnight, followed quickly by Olaf.

"Authorities in the Cooks should be very much aware that Cyclone Olaf is forecast to be following on the heels of Cyclone Nancy as another major cyclone, and there may be very little time between storms to recover or do any repairs," said the Australian-Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information.

"This is an unusual and increasingly very dangerous situation," it said.

A Rarotonga resident, Estelle Searle, said everyone was stocking up on canned foods, toilet paper and fresh water.

Containers had been moved from wharves and shops emptied of stock in case of looting. Schools were closed until further notice.

"All week we have been cleaning up from Meena [the cyclone that hit a week ago] and now we are bracing ourselves again."

In Apia, Aggie Grey Hotel manager Alan Grey told the Herald all air flights to the Samoan capital had been cancelled and the Faleolo Airport was closed.

His 100 guests would have to sit the storm out.

The hotel windows facing the sea had been battened down, and generators were on standby.

Mr Grey said locals queued yesterday outside water outlets to fill containers and at stores for supplies.

"But by 4.30pm there was pretty much not a soul in town. Everyone had rushed home to board up."

The Samoan Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vaaelua Remoni, said warnings were being relayed on radio and television and the usual cyclone precautions were being taken.

New Zealand MetService forecaster Eric Brenstrum said last night that the eye of Olaf would likely pass closest to Samoa from the northwest about 5pm (NZ time) today.

And about a day later in the Cook Islands the cyclone was set to strike the southern group including Rarotonga on the heels of Cyclone Nancy.

Mr Brenstrum said Cyclone Olaf winds were expected to increase today to 120km/h or more in the Samoan islands, including American Samoa.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand was standing by to help as required.