Tsunami warning cancelled after Tonga earthquake
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - A strong 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Friday near Tonga, generating a tsunami with the potential of striking coastlines in the South Pacific, officials said.
There were no immediate reports of injury or damage and the country's police commander said hours later the tsunami warning was cancelled.
The quake struck about 200 kilometres south-southeast of the Tongan capital Nuku'Alofa at a depth of 10 kilometres, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Tonga and neighbouring islands and reported sea level readings confirmed a potentially destructive tsunami wave was generated.
The centre also advised some coastal areas of Hawaii could see a rise in sea level and strong currents lasting up to several hours.
Radio stations in Tonga broadcast tsunami warnings but police and residents said no big wave had been reported.
By midmorning, police commander Chris Kelly said the tsunami warning had been cancelled.
Police spokesman Niua Kama said residents did not appear to take the warning seriously.
"People are out on the roads, laughing at the warning," he said.
Resident Dana Stephenson said the quake started with "deep rumblings...then side-to-side movement which seemed to go on forever but I guess was about 40 seconds - which is long enough."
"We're shaken but not stirred," she added.
New Zealand seismologist Craig Miller said "a long, low rolling motion" from the quake was reported by residents on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island - more than 3,000 kilometres from the epicentre.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.9 earthquake has struck in the Pacific Ocean approximately  south-southeast of Nuku'Alofa, Tonga, generating a tsunami.  It struck at 6:17 a.m. (local time) and was registered at a depth of only 6.2 miles (10km).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had earlier issued a tsunami warning for Tonga, Fiji, American Samoa, Samoa, Niue and the Kermadec Islands, which was later canceled.  The warning did not include Hawaii.

"Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami was generated. This tsunami may have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake epicenter," said the PTWC in a statement posted on their website. The size of the tsunami was not known.

There were no reports of damage, injuries or deaths. According to the USGS, over 6,000 people live in the region hit by the quake. The USGS says damage could be minor in Havelu and 'Ohonua of Tonga, but residents are not concerned. One resident said that when morning arrived, people were "laughing" at the tsunami warning. No major waves were reported.

On Wednesday, a volcano near the country's coastline began to erupt sending plumes of smoke and ash into the sky. The volcano is roughly  from the Tonga coast.