Pacific tsunami warning cancelled after Vanuatu quakes (Second lead)

October 8th, 2009 New quakes, small tsunami panic Pacific islanders WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Thousands of panicked South Pacific islanders raced away from coastlines after a series of strong earthquakes rocked the region and generated a small tsunami Thursday, just over a week after a massive wave killed 178 people in the Samoas and Tonga. There were no immediate reports of damage, and tsunami warnings for 11 nations and territories were soon canceled.

October 7th, 2009 WELLINGTON - New Zealand civil defence authorities downgraded an initial tsunami warning after three big quakes hit the South Pacific Thursday, saying there was no confirmation that a tsunami had been created. Any tsunami was unlikely to be destructive for New Zealand, they said.

October 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitude struck early Thursday local time about 294 km north-north-west of Santo in the Pacific island country of Vanuatu, US meteorologists said.

October 7th, 2009 Small tsunami forms in Pacific, warnings canceledWELLINGTON, New Zealand — Three powerful earthquakes rocked the South Pacific near the Vanuatu archipelago Thursday, generating a small tsunami just over a week after another, massive wave killed 178 people in the Samoas and Tonga. There were no immediate reports of damage, and all tsunami warnings and watches for the Pacific were canceled two hours after they were first issued.

October 7th, 2009 Small tsunami causes Pacific islanders to fleeWELLINGTON, New Zealand — Thousands of panicked South Pacific islanders raced away from the coastline after three strong earthquakes rocked the region and generated a small tsunami Thursday, just over a week after a massive wave killed 178 people in the Samoas and Tonga. There were no immediate reports of damage, and all tsunami warnings and watches were soon canceled.

October 7th, 2009 Strong quakes near Vanuatu spark tsunami alertWELLINGTON, New Zealand — Two powerful earthquakes rocked the South Pacific near the Vanuatu archipelago Thursday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, triggering a regional tsunami alert.

October 7th, 2009 Tsunami warnings canceled in PacificWELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has canceled all tsunami warnings and watches throughout the Pacific. The cancellations came two hours after the alerts were first posted Wednesday.

October 7th, 2009 Powerful 7.8 quake off Vanuatu, tsunami alertWELLINGTON, New Zealand — Two powerful earthquakes rocked the South Pacific near the Vanuatu archipelago Thursday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, triggering a regional tsunami alert.

September 30th, 2009 No tsunami expected on West Coast from sea earthquake LOS ANGELES — Experts say a magnitude-7.9 quake in the South Pacific is not expected to produce a tsunami along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia or Alaska. The quake occurred at 10:48 a.m.

September 30th, 2009 Tsunami hits American SamoaPAGO PAGO, American Samoa — A tsunami swept into Pago Pago (Pan-go, pan-go) in American Samoa shortly after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 shook the Pacific area. There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.

September 30th, 2009 Japan issues tsunami warning along coastTOKYO — Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami warning all along its eastern coast after a strong earthquake hit Samoa in the Pacific Ocean. The agency warned Wednesday morning of a possible tsunami up to about 1.6 feet (50 centimeters) tall.

September 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON/WELLINGTON - An 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off American Samoa Tuesday triggering a three-metre tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii confirmed. The earthquake's epicentre was located about 204 km southwest of the remote Pacific island and it struck at a depth of 85 km.

September 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON/WELLINGTON - At least 25 people died in the Pacific island states of Samoa and American Samoa after a tsunami was triggered by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake Tuesday, according to reports from the region. A number of coastal villages were swept away and reports said the death toll was bound to rise as people who were evacuated to higher ground after the shake returned to lower levels.

July 15th, 2009 Tsunami warning canceled after New Zealand quakeWELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami generated after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake off of New Zealand is small and poses no threat. The warning center says no destructive waves are headed for New Zealand's western coastline after a tsunami warning was issued earlier.

April 21st, 2009 Moderate earthquake strikes near VanuatuSYDNEY — A moderate earthquake has struck near the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, but no tsunami warning has been issued and there are no immediate reports of injury or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude 5.9 quake struck Tuesday 43 miles (69 kilometers) east of the city of Isangel, at a depth of 22 miles (35 kilometers).