Tonga alert as cyclones lash Pacific

Tonga, the Samoas, Niue and parts of Fiji are preparing for the weekend arrival of Cyclone Rene - as the Pacific region reels from a string of storms.

French Polynesia is beginning a multi-million dollar clean-up effort after losing hundreds of homes and one person dead to Cyclone Oli.

Then Cyclone Pat struck the Cook Islands, devastating the island of Aitutaki.

But the small island of Tokelau has suffered the greatest loss of lives.

Three men from Atafu were swept out to sea in severe weather.

Faipule Kursa Nasau told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat it has left the island in shock.

"I just got back from the cemetery and by midday we found the last body.

"We had three victims and recovered the first two on the first day."

Despite the tragedy, with the victims found "we can finally rest".

Tonga was placed on alert on Friday as Cyclone Rene bore down on the Pacific.

Rene is hovering around the Northern Cook Islands and is expected to pass through American Samoa, Samoa and Niue.

But the Fiji Meteorological Service says the category two cyclone is expected to be upgraded over the weekend and may pose a direct threat to Tonga by Sunday.

Tropical cylone forecaster Alipate Waqaicelua says Rene is expected to bring hurricane-force winds.

"Perhaps the closest it will come to Samoa is around 100 to 200 kilometres, at least damaging gale-force winds is anticipated for the Samoas," he said.

"If it does intensify and become a hurricane and maintain that, it unfortunately (is) heading into the Friendly Islands of Tonga."