Powerful quake hits near Samoa

A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck today under the Pacific Ocean floor near Samoa, US Geological Survey reported. No damage was immediately reported, and the chances of a local tsunami were low, officials said.

The quake struck beneath the sea floor about 185 miles southwest of Pago Pago, the closest population centre, at about 7.20pm local time (07.20am Irish time), the USGS said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no danger of an ocean-wide tsunami, but that earthquakes of that magnitude sometimes cause potentially damaging waves if they occur within 60 miles of a coastline.