8.3-Magnitude Earthquake In The Pacific: 10-Ft Tsunami Hits Samoa 
A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake has struck in the Pacific Ocean off the Northern Coast of New Zealand and near the Islands of Samoa at 1748 GMT. The areas directly affected are Apia, Western Samoa, and Pago Pago, American Samoa. Tsunami warning was issued immediately following the earthquake. A 10-foot wave is reported to have hit the Samoa Islands. There are reports of deaths and property damages. The number of victims is still unconfirmed.
[UPDATES-- September 29, 2009]
The latest death count is over 100 people now.
The West Coast of the United States is still under tsunami advisory. The West Coast And Alaska Tsunami Warning Center provides a list of cities expected to experience tsunami with expected times and wave heights.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says tsunami is not expected to affect Hawaii. Tsunami watch continues for other affected areas.
BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A MAJOR TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED TO STRIKE THE STATE OF HAWAII.
The latest estimate of lives lost and damage:
There are also reports that three chldren died in Samoa as the tsunami flattened houses and swept away cars.
Reuters is now reporting that deaths have occurred as the result of the tsunami in Samoa. The number of victims is not clear yet. There are reports local residents are fleeing for higher ground.
BNO reports villages have been "flattened" by the 10-feet (3-meter) tsunami on Samoa's Upolu.
AlJazeera is reporting that the tsunami has indeed been observed on Samoan Islands.
A tsunami has been observed in the Pacific Ocean after a powerful earthquake between the island nations of Samoa and American Samoa, officials have said.
Local media reported that people fled their homes for higher ground in Apia, the Samoan capital, after a tsunami warning was issued following the quake on Tuesday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center updated the Samoa earthquake magnitude to 8.3. The tsunami is still a threat for Hawaii. According to the Center's predictions, the tsunami wave can range from 2-5 feet.
A powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake has struck in the Pacific Ocean off the Northern Coast of New Zealand and near the Islands of Samoa at 1748 GMT. A tsunami warning has been issued for islands in the vicinity of the epicenter and as far away as Hawaii. It is still not clear whether the tsunami was indeed generated.
The following information was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center:
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME - 0748 AM HST 29 SEP 2009 COORDINATES - 15.3 SOUTH 171.0 WEST LOCATION - SAMOA ISLANDS REGION MAGNITUDE - 7.9 MOMENT
BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A TSUNAMI MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY THIS EARTHQUAKE THAT COULD BE DESTRUCTIVE ON COASTAL AREAS EVEN FAR FROM THE EPICENTER. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.
A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AMERICAN SAMOA / SAMOA / NIUE / WALLIS-FUTUNA / TOKELAU / COOK ISLANDS / TONGA / TUVALU / KIRIBATI / KERMADEC IS / FIJI / HOWLAND-BAKER / JARVIS IS. / NEW ZEALAND / FR. POLYNESIA / PALMYRA IS. A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR VANUATU / NAURU / MARSHALL IS. / SOLOMON IS. / JOHNSTON IS. / NEW CALEDONIA / KOSRAE / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / HAWAII / POHNPEI / WAKE IS. / PITCAIRN / MIDWAY IS.
A damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts although some of these areas may experience non-damaging sea level changes.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 14:27 on September 29th, 2009
What's going on first is that horendous cyclone in philippines and vietnam ( another two cyclones are on their way one of them should reach the same part of philippines on sunday) and now this earthquake and tsunami as a result....It must be so hard to live in that part of the world!!!
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J2B (not verified)at 16:24 on September 29th, 2009
Japan Tsunami Warning for the entire Pacific coast line and all the Islands. Estimated height to be 0.5 meter. Follow local instructions!
at 16:29 on September 29th, 2009
BBC Reports 28 dead in Samoa
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8281616.stm
at 16:48 on September 29th, 2009
AP Top News at 7:59 p.m. EDT
(AP) – 47 minutes ago
LALOMANU, Samoa — A Samoan reporter says tsunami victims "are everywhere" in a hospital near a hard-hit area and the dead could number up to 20. Associated Press reporter Keni Lesa said three or four villages on the popular tourist coast near the southern town of Lalomanu on Samoa's main island of Upolu had been "wiped out" by waves that roared ashore early Wednesday. Lesa said he had visited the town's main hospital where "there are bodies everywhere," including at least one child.
at 18:21 on September 29th, 2009
Thanks, Mritunjay, for updating.
at 18:43 on September 29th, 2009
Just in news:
President Obama declared American Samoa a major disaster area, making federal relief available to earthquake and tsunami victims.
at 18:56 on September 29th, 2009
Just in:
Reuters has reported in it's latest update that the death tolls in Samoa islands may exceed 100 while hundreds have been injured in the spate of Tsunamis that rocked the Pacific Rim.
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J2B (not verified)at 22:33 on September 29th, 2009
In Japan, all tsunami warnings & advisories have now been cancelled!