WASHINGTON (October 14, 2009)--A strong earthquake struck Wednesday in the Pacific Ocean near Samoa, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The government seismologists said the quake had a magnitude of 6.0 and was at a depth of 6.2 miles. It occurred at 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday.

Its epicenter was 165 miles northwest of Hihifo, Tonga, and 1,630 miles north northeast of Auckland, New Zealand.

The USGS announcement did not mention whether a tsunami was expected.

An earthquake and a following tsunami killed more than 180 people on Samoa, American Samoa and nearby islands on Sept. 29.

That earthquake had a magnitude of 8.3.