26 Dec 2009

Earthquake off Samoa

4:34 pm on 26 December 2009

A earthquake of magnitude 5.5 has occurred off Samoa.

The US Geological Survey said it was centred about 281km southwest of the capital Apia at a depth of 35km, at 11.04am (NZT) on Saturday( 2204 GMT).

There was no tsunami alert or any reports of damage.

More than 180 people died in September when a tsunami caused by magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa.