An unknown number of deaths have been reported after a powerful 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Pacific near the island of American Samoa generated a tsunami.
A US National Park Service said there was no word on how many people had been killed in American Samoa. Fatalities were also reported in Western Samoa.
A 1.5-metre tsunami was reported at Pago Pago, American Samoa, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. Homes in some villages on the southern coast of the Western Samoan island of Upolu were washed away, Radio New Zealand reported. Some people on that coast may have been swept to sea, Television New Zealand reported, citing its Apia-based film- crew.
The quake struck shortly before 7.00am local time about 196 kms southwest of Apia, the capital of the independent island of Samoa, at a depth of about 33 kms miles, according to the US Geological Survey.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said warnings for tsunami activity were posted for Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, the Cook Islands and 16 other island nationss.
The tsunami was projected to reach Tonga and Fiji within hours, according to the Pacific warning centre. It is expected to reach the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island soon afterwards.
Residents of Samoa, shocked by the strength of the quake, heeded warnings of local police and moved inland, Radio New Zealand said.
The magnitude of the quake was revised higher from an initial reading of 7.9, the USGS said. The quake was followed by two 5.6 aftershocks one in the Samoa
Islands region and one near the Cook Islands, the USGS said.