6.0 Earthquake Strikes Off Coast of Western Samoa

Published January 08, 2015

DEVELOPING: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck in the ocean off the coast of Western Samoa at 6.a.m. local time on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake is "too small to cause any real issues," Don Blakeman, an earthquake analyst at the U.S. Geological Survey, told Fox News. Blakeman says it usually takes a 7 or 7.5 magnitude earthquake to generate a significant tsunami.

The quake was 6.2 miles deep. Its epicenter was 165 miles northwest of Hihifo, Tonga and 1,630 miles northeast of Auckland, New Zealand, according to the Associated Press.

THE USGS has not received any reports of damage.

An earthquake and a following tsunami killed more than 180 people on Samoa, American Samoa and nearby islands on Sept. 29. That earthquake was an 8.3 magnitude, the Associated Press reported.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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