Strong quake causes tsunami

2009-09-29 21:32

Washington - A powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off American Samoa generated a tsunami, US government agencies said on Tuesday.

Sea level readings indicated a tsunami was generated in the Pacific, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, a branch of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said.

The agency earlier issued a tsunami warning for New Zealand, American Samoa and other small Pacific islands.

The epicentre of the quake was located 190km southwest of American Samoa, a remote Pacific island, said the US Geological Survey. It struck at a depth of 33km.

- Reuters