Tonga struck by quake: Your accounts

A strong earthquake measuring 8.0 has rocked the Pacific island nation of Tonga, but initial fears that it might trigger a tsunami have receded.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was centred some 16km (10 miles) below the ocean floor about 160km (100 miles) north-east of the capital, Nuku'alofa.

Have you been affected by the Tongan earthquake? Have you been in contact with anyone on the islands?

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Your accounts:

We live in Samoa, several hundred kilometers from Tonga, but even here we were awakened by our house shaking and all the windowpanes ratteling back and forth.
Mark Scheffer, Tiapapata, Samoa

I have lived through several earthquakes in my time but this was the biggest and most frightening. The house swayed for about a minute and threw items off shelves. Power was cut however there miraculously appears to be no significant damage.
Daniel Faunt, Nuku'alofa Tonga

Was a rough ride this morning during the earthquake, was thrown around my room whilst attempting to run downstairs. Initial shock lasted around 90 seconds and we have had a few after shocks/tremors lasting a few seconds each over last few hours. All power and telephones are in use here in the capital after being down around 15 minutes after the quake until 6am local time. No major signs of damage in town.
Andrew Stainlay, Nuku'alofa TONGA

My wife was able to get a hold of her father who lives in the capital city of Nuku'Alofa. Lights are out all over the main Island of Tongatapu but the phone service is apparently intact. Damage appears to be minimal due to the rolling nature of the quake rather than a shaking motion. However an assessment by daylight may prove different. Nobody in her immediate family or their immediate neighbours were hurt. No signs of Tsunami.
Craig Jones, Bellevue WA USA

My sister is an American Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Tonga, and I spoke with her shortly after the earthquake struck. She reported that she is physically fine, but all of the glass in her house is broken. Her house is on the main route to the hospital, and she has heard heavy traffic going by. During the earthquake, she had a view of the buildings next door and reported that she saw them swaying back and forth. Thankfully, though very shaken up, she is safe.
Robin, Chicago, IL USA

It was a very huge earthquake and power is still out in the main island. We have yet to receive any reports from Tonga's outer islands. No damages reported in the main island so far.
Sione Vikilani, Nuku'alofa, Tonga

One of our congregation members contacted his wife this morning in Tonga. She said the earthquake was hard, but not as scary as being in a high-rise building in Seattle in our 6.3 earthquake a few years back. They are all waiting for the electricity or the sun to rise to find out the damage, but wasn't as shaken up as we feared.
Pastor Lisa Anthony, Seattle, USA