Magnitude-6.6 Earthquake Strikes Near Samoa

WAM/APP

APIA: A powerful magnitude-6.6 earthquake struck the South Pacific near the island nation of Samoa on Friday. However, officials reported no immediate damage or injuries.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at a depth of 314 kilometers (195 miles), approximately 440 kilometers (273 miles) southwest of Samoa’s capital, Apia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu confirmed that there was no tsunami threat resulting from the earthquake.

Samoa lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent seismic activity due to numerous tectonic fault lines that encircle the ocean basin.