A 7.9 magnitude quake about 209km (130 miles) south-east of Tonga triggered a tsunami in the South Pacific, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
A 7.9 magnitude easthquake about 200km (130 miles) south-east of Tonga has triggered a tsunami in the South Pacific, but no damage is reported.
A regional tsunami warning was issued, but withdrawn just over an hour and a half later.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had said high waves were likely to hit Tonga, Samoa and other islands around the region.
The quake hit at 0618 local time (1818 GMT) at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).
The quake hit at 0618 local time (1818 GMT) at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).
"It may have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake epicentre," the centre said.
The tremor, which residents from Fiji to New Zealand reported feeling, was followed two hours later by an after-shock of 5.3 magnitude.
There were no immediate indications of any damage or casualties on Tonga's main island, Tongan police said in the capital, Nuku'alofa.
A regional tsunami warning was issued, but withdrawn just over an hour and a half later.
US monitors advised that some coastal areas of Hawaii could see a rise in sea level and strong currents lasting up to several hours but said no destructive impact was expected.
'Got off lightly'
'People laughing'
A resident of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa said there was no sign of significant damage or of a tsunami after the shallow quake.
Caroline Holden, a seismologist with New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, said this was surprising.
"Quite remarkable, given the magnitude of it. We might have gotten off lightly," the national police commander, Chris Kelly, said.
"The house really moved, the trees were swaying and the ground was rippling," he said.
People in low lying areas of Fiji fled for higher ground, officials said, and schools and government offices were closed.
New Zealand seismologist Craig Miller said "a long, low rolling motion" from the quake was reported by residents on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island - more than 3,000 km (1,875 miles) from the quake's epicentre.
Tonga resident Pesi Fonua told the Associated Press the quake had lasted for "something like 20 seconds" but he had seen no damage.
Tonga resident Pesi Fonua told the Associated Press the quake had lasted for "something like 20 seconds" but he had seen no damage.
ALERT ISSUED FOR TongaNiueKermadec IslandsSamoaAmerican SamoaWallis-FutunaFiji Police spokesman Niua Kama told the agency residents did not appear to take the warning seriously.
Police spokesman Niua Kama told the agency residents did not appear to take the warning seriously.
"People are out on the roads, laughing at the warning," he said.
"People are out on the roads, laughing at the warning," he said.
They were not moving back from the coast despite tsunami warnings, the spokesman added.
They were not moving back from the coast despite tsunami warnings, the spokesman added.
Mary Fonua, a resident of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, described experiencing "a lot of rattling and shaking".
Several earthquakes have been felt in Tonga recently and an undersea volcano has been erupting off the coast of the main island Tongatapu, although it was not considered to be a threat to people in the area.
"It went on for about 30 seconds, and I went outside and the house was shaking for about another 30 seconds," she told AFP.
The epicentre is 480km (300 miles) south-east of Fiji's Ndoi Island and 1,830km (1,140 miles) north-east of Auckland, New Zealand.
The island state of Tonga is a developing tourist destination.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below.
