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Powerful quake off Samoa islands Powerful quake off Samoa islands
(28 minutes later)
A powerful earthquake has struck near the Samoa islands, triggering a tsunami warning for several Pacific nations. A powerful earthquake has struck near the Samoa islands, triggering a potentially destructive tsunami along the coasts of several Pacific nations.
The 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit at 1748 GMT at a depth of 33km (20.5 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) upgraded the quake to magnitude 8.3 from 7.9 earlier recorded by the US Geological Survey.
Its epicentre was about 190km south-west of Apia on the island of Samoa, the US Geological Survey said. The quake hit at 1748 GMT at a depth of 33km (20.5 miles) some 190km south-west of Apia on the island of Samoa.
PTWC says sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated in the Pacific.
It says the tsunami "may have been destructive" along coasts near the earthquake epicentre.
A tsunami warning has been issued for the Samoa islands, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.A tsunami warning has been issued for the Samoa islands, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory - with a total population of about 250,000 people.The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory - with a total population of about 250,000 people.
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