Samoa prepares for Cyclone Amos

Authorities are monitoring the progress of Cyclone Amos as it bears down on Samoa.

Source: Samoa Meteorological Service

Samoa is bracing for the impact of potentially the strongest cyclone to hit the Pacific nation in a decade.

New Zealand's MetService said Tropical Cyclone Amos was about 260km northwest of Savai'i Island on Saturday afternoon.

Amos was currently a category three cyclone but intensifying while it tracked southeastwards towards Samoa, "affecting them during Sunday", MetService said.

Forecasters say it may be the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the islands in a decade.

Businesses in Apia were putting sandbags in place and lifting goods to high ground to protect against flooding, the Samoa Observer reported.

Air New Zealand said it had a flight from Auckland to Apia at 3.30pm on Sunday, which would operate as scheduled but the situation was being monitored.