It was the first day back to work for all public servants on Monday and most traffic lights across the township area of Apia suddenly stopped working causing heavy traffic during most of the morning.

An accident involving two cars took place at Lalovaea around 9 am when the traffic lights started malfunctioning.

Samoa Observer took a trip across Apia on Monday midday and confirmed the heavy traffic across Apia mainly at intersections.

A public servant on his way to work, Vineula Burgess said he was stuck on the road for a few hours after leaving his house and the traffic congestion made him frustrated as he was late for his office meeting.

"It was not this bad during the holiday season and I give credit to the authorities who showed up to take control of the situation but this should not have happened," he said.

"I was greeted with a traffic jam from the Vaimoso intersection to town and it was crazy because schools are still on a break.

"When I reached the town area then I noticed heaps of police officers stationed at every intersection and all the traffic lights were off.

Even a tourist was left frustrated. 

Rose Jeede from Germany who was walking around the shops in Apia was depressed by having to wait at the cross humps until the police stopped the vehicles.

"It's really hot in Samoa and I enjoyed it but I think I have been here too long that I kind of feel like I need to be under the shade more than in the sun, and today I have been walking around the town. I always stop by the humps where police were replacing the traffic lights and it was taking ages," she said. 

"I saw one couple arguing in the car driving into McDonald's, while their kid in the backseat was sweating and sleeping and I felt sorry for the kid because I saw that car on the same spot when I walked into McDonald's for about an hour and was still there but moved up a bit and the windows were down, it was just depressing I could tell."

Ms. Jeede is in Samoa for vacation and returns to her family on Wednesday. Despite the heat on Monday, she said she is happy she decided to come to Samoa and experience the food and culture.

Meanwhile, attempts to get a comment from the Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.) were unsuccessful.