Another quake hits near Tonga

Published: 3:00PM Friday October 02, 2009 Source: Newstalk ZB/ONE News/AAP

There has been a fresh, smaller earthquake in the South Pacific, two days after a giant tremor caused a devastating tsunami killing over 150 people.

GNS Science recorded a magnitude 6.3 rattle, 85 kilometres south east off Tonga at a depth of ten kilometres.

Tonga is west of the international dateline and a day ahead of Samoa. The new quake struck 377 kilometres from American Samoa capital Pago Pago.

Also just before 2pm (NZT) there was a 5.1 magnitude shake in the Samoan Islands region.

There have been no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning has been issued.

The two smaller quakes come after the 8.0 earthquake which struck the region on Wednesday morning.

The total death toll from Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga is expected to rise with hundreds still missing.

Seismologist Bill Fry says it's most likely an aftershock from Wednesday's jolt.

He says a tremor of this size is not unusual for an aftershock.

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