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The '''2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami''' took place on 29 September 2009 in the southern Pacific Ocean adjacent to the [[Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone]]. The [[submarine earthquake]] occurred in an [[Extensional tectonics|extensional]] environment and had a [[moment magnitude scale|moment magnitude]] of 8.1 and a maximum [[Modified Mercalli intensity scale|Mercalli intensity]] of VI (''Strong''). It was the [[List of 21st-century earthquakes#2009|largest]] earthquake of 2009. Within two minutes of the [[earthquake rupture]], two large magnitude 7.8 earthquakes occurred on the [[subduction zone]] interface. The two
Normal and megathrust faulting triggered a [[tsunami]] which caused substantial damage and loss of life in [[Samoa]], [[American Samoa]], and [[Tonga]]. The [[Pacific Tsunami Warning Center]] recorded a {{convert|3|in|adj=on}} rise in sea levels near the [[epicenter]], and New Zealand scientists determined that the waves measured {{convert|14|m}} at their highest on the Samoan coast.<ref name="NIWA">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Field |title=Pacific tsunami four storeys high |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/3128083/Pacific-tsunami-four-storeys-high |work=[[stuff.co.nz]] |publisher=Fairfax NZ |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=5 December 2009}}</ref> The quake occurred on the [[Outer trench swell|outer rise]] of the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone. This is part of the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]], where [[Plate tectonics|tectonic plates]] in the Earth's [[lithosphere]] meet and earthquakes and [[vulcanology|volcanic]] activity are common.
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