The tsunami warning issued for New Zealand, Fiji and outlying Pacific islands has been rescinded.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued the advisory after an earthquake hit the Tonga islands, at 4.26 pm (Irish time) today.
The US body warned New Zealand could be hit three hours following an 8.1 magnitude quake in the Tonga Islands.
But there were no reports of abnormally large waves in Tonga, Fiji, Samoa or New Zealand.
A large wave would have hit Suva, Fiji, at 6.13 pm Irish Time and Gisborne, New Zealand, at 7.21 pm Irish time.
"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre," the centre said in a later bulletin.
This afternoon's earthquake was at 10 miles depth but the size of the tsunami wave was not clear, the center said.
Early reports from Tonga say several islands were hit. A police officer in Tonga told Britain's Sky Television it was the largest tremor for over 20 years but there were no immediate reports of damage. He said electricity went out though later came back.
Another witness told Sky the earthquake was felt in several islands and a resident of Tonga said he felt tremors lasting over 30 seconds.
The main earthquake struck 95 miles south of Tonga's Neiafu island, 1,340 miles north east of the New Zealand capital Auckland.
Tongan officials said they were checking outer islands in the group, particularly the low-lying Hapai Islands, near the epicentre.
Fiji radio in the capital Suva said there were no initial reports of a tsunami. "There have been no reports of any problems, but it is early in the morning" said a reporter for Fiji's FM96.
A warning was also issued for Hawaii in the United States but no destructive threat was seen, according to the centre.