9:40 PM Tue 29 Sep 2009 GMT
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'Andam Sea earthquake, Boxing Day, Dec 26th 2004'
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An earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale near Samoa this morning has triggered a Pacific Ocean tsunami.
The earthquake, at a depth of 35 kilometres, was centred 200 km south of the Samoan capital Apia and struck at 6.48am Tuesday local time and NZ time (3.48am Wednesday AEST) midway between the two island groups of Samoa and American Samoa. Local police report some deaths but numbers are unconfirmed.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre based in Hawaii said sea level readings indicated a tsunami was generated and prompted a warning for New Zealand, and for much of the Pacific, but the tsunami is no expected to affect Australia.
'It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre and could also be a threat to more distant coasts.
'Authorities should take appropriate action in response to this possibility.'
Small tsunami waves washed ashore on the New Zealand East Cape coastline at 9.44am without causing any damage, New Zealand's TV1 reported.
Auckland has issued a civil defence emergency for the whole region and the tsunami is due to hit at 11.12am but it will be low tide.
Great Barrier and Waiheke residents have been told to go to higher ground and Auckland beaches have been evacuated. The tsunami is due to reach Wellington at 10.50am and Auckland at 11.12am.
The Samoan earthquake at 8.3 is much smaller than the 2004 Indian Ocean undersea earthquake of magnitude 9.2 that occurred on December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
The Boxing Day Tsunamis on the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand killed around 230,000 people in eleven countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 metre (100 feet) high.
by Sail-World.com
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Troughton Island, WA
