Washington - The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday issued a tsunami warning for Tonga, Samoa and Fiji among other Pacific islands.

The warning came after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake was reported 10 kilometres deep in the Tonga islands region.

"Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami was generated. This tsunami may have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake epicentre," a NOAA statement said, alerting authorities in the region.

The NOAA said that boats and coastal structures were in danger because of the rapid currents. A tsunami is a series of powerful and successive waves that can occur anywhere between five minutes to one hour apart.

Other islands alerted included Niue, Kermadec, American Samoa and Walli-Futuna. (dpa)