A strong earthquake near Samoa in the South Pacific is believed to have generated a tsunami. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii says an earthquake in the Samoan islands region has generated a tsunami. "Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated," says a warning on the centre's website.

It warns that it may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre. "For those areas, when no major waves are observed for two hours after the estimated time of arrival or damaging waves have not occurred for at least two hours, then local authorities can assume the threat has passed," it says. It says the tsunami waves were measured at Pago Pago at 07:00 GMT (5:00pm AEST), and they were eight centimetres from middle to crest. They were 10 minutes apart.

It says no tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas in the Pacific, although some other areas may experience small sea level changes. The US Geological Survey says the quake had a magnitude of 6.7. It says the earthquake struck 195 kilometres east south-east of Hihifo, Tonga, and 290 kilometres south south-west of Pago Pago, American Samoa. Original Source: ABC News Online