(CNN) -- Tsunami warnings were issued for Fiji and New Zealand early Thursday (local time) after a massive earthquake measuring about 8.0 in magnitude shook the southern Pacific Ocean.

The quake's epicenter was about 90 miles off the coast of Tonga, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake struck Wednesday 3:26 p.m. UTC, or 4:26 a.m. Thursday in Tonga.


The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami wave could hit Suva, Fiji, as early as 5:13 p.m. UTC (5:13 a.m. local time) before affecting New Zealand's coastal cities in the following hours.


It's a little before 5AM NZ time as I post.


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