Seismology experts have warned that the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of Chile early Saturday could generate a destructive tsunami that could hit coastlines on the western Pacific.
Tonga and the Cook Islands were evacuating coastal areas as the waves were expected to hit later in the morning.
On Tahiti, traffic was banned on roads less than 500 meters (550 yards) from the sea. Residents on islands of low elevation were told to get to higher ground.
Monique Richeton, mayor of Rikitea, said the first wave struck Gambier early Sunday at less than one meter (3.3 feet) and no damage was reported.
In the Philippines, officials warned coastal communities on the eastern side of the archipelago to prepare for possible evacuation.
"No evacuation order is in effect but communities along the east coast of the country are advised to wait for further information and to prepare for possible evacuation," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in its latest advisory.
The advisory said that the first tsunami waves were expected to hit the Philippines between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (0500 GMT and 0630 GMT) on Sunday.
Phivolcs said that the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii would monitor the sea levels and report if any tsunami activity was detected.
