Tropical Cyclone Gita, which is lashing the two Samoas with torrential rain and damaging winds, has been upgraded to a category two as it continues to strengthen.

The cyclone is currently to the south of Samoa and heading towards American Samoa at a speed of about 25km/h.

Gita has already caused flooding and landslides, and debris has made some main roads impassable.

Radio New Zealand Pacific’s correspondent in Apia, said the rain had caused rivers to burst their banks, flooding many houses – including his own.

The disaster management office said more than 200 people were in evacuation centers around the country.