Powerful earthquake strikes near Samoa - International Herald Tribune

SYDNEY, Australia A massive earthquake struck Thursday under the Pacific Ocean floor near Samoa generating a tsunami that could have been destructive if it had been closer to land, authorities said. No damage was reported. U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 and striking 43 kilometers (27 miles) beneath the sea floor about 300 kilometers (185 miles) southwest of Pago Pago at about 7:20 p.m. local time (0620 GMT). The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami ...