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Tsunami watch canceled for Hawaii after 8.3 Samoa quake

HONOLULU (KHNL) - The tsunami watch for the Hawaiian Islands has been canceled as of 10:23 AM HST. However, a tsunami advisory is in effect for all Hawaiian shorelines until 7:00 PM Tuesday. This means that swimmers, boaters and beach-goers are advised to stay out of the water due to unusual conditions that may occur due to the tsunami waves that were generated Tuesday morning.

Authorities are advising people to stay out of the ocean due to the possibility of unusual sea-level changes and strong currents. High tide will occur between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM Tuesday afternoon, which is the same time that forecasters warn that sea level fluctuations might begin. People living and working in tsunami inundation zones should remain alert for changes in sea level from 1:00 PM until 7:00 PM Tuesday.

An earthquake of 8.3 magnitude occurred at 7:48 AM Hawaii time south of the Samoan Islands. The quake generated a 12-foot wave that was observed at Pago Pago, American Samoa, according to observers at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The Samoan radio station "Showers of Blessing" reported that local officials in American Samoa said 14 people were killed when five separate tsunami waves struck the island.

A series of aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 and larger continued to rattle the Samoan Islands for hours after the initial quake.