Sydney - Australia on Wednesday promised every effort to help tsunami victims in the tiny South Pacific island nation of Samoa as the full scale of the disaster hit home.

At least three Australian tourists died and six others were unaccounted for after waves unleashed by an offshore earthquake crashed into villages and resorts.

"This evening we'll be dispatching charter aircraft with much-needed medical supplies, search and rescue teams as well as disaster-recovery equipment," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

Two Hercules transport aircraft were on standby to ship further equipment to Apia, the Samoan capital.

Bob McMullan, the parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, said there were concerns for more Australians because the resort-studded southern part of the main Upolu island had taken the brunt of the tsunami.

He said Australian, New Zealand and French authorities were in discussions with the Samoan government to coordinate the delivery of relief.

"The most stark thing the government said they needed was morgue facilities," he said. "That's one of those messages that sends a chill down your spine. We're talking large numbers of people." (dpa)