Oklahoma Registers Pacific Earthquake 6,000 Miles Away

Staff and Wire Reports

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa -- A visitor said a beach village has been "wiped out" on the island of Samoa, after a powerful earthquake sent a tsunami ashore.

The quake, with a magnitude of up to 8.3, struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa, sending residents fleeing for higher ground.

A man from New Zealand tells a radio station that there's "not a building standing" in the devastated village of Sau Sau Beach Fale. Graeme Ansell said everyone climbed hills to get out of harm's way and a member of his group has a broken leg.

A five-foot tsunami wave swept into Pago Pago the capital of American Samoa, shortly after the quake. It sent sea water surging inland about 100 yards before receding. Power outages are reported, and phone lines are jammed.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck 20 miles below the ocean floor.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center put the magnitude at 8.3 and issued a general alert for the South Pacific. Oklahoma Geological officials said Hawaii is not longer included in the watch.

Oklahoma Geological Survey officials said the quake 6,000 miles away was picked up on seismographs in Leonard, Oklahoma. However, officials said the tremors were too small to be felt by anyone in the state.