The town of Pangai in Tonga's central Ha'apai Group of islands was hit by the September 30 tsunami, with the Police reporting damage to two houses, several boats and a wharf.

The tsunami claimed nine lives in Niuatoputapu in the far north of Tonga where settlements were wrecked.

Ha'apai, is a long way to the south of the Niuas, but reports from the Police Office in Pangai on Monday confirmed that three waves up to three metres high had swept about 40 metres inland, reaching the Tau'akipulu Royal residence, the Pangai Police station and the Chief of Police's residence.

Inspector 'Okusitino Peleki said the first wave struck just before 8:00 am on September 30 and the second wave came shortly after, damaging the walls of two homes in the teachers' compound at Tailulu College.

The strength of the tsunami concentrated mainly in the harbour resulted in sinking of 'Alama', a boat owned by the LDS Church.

The waves also damaged the Kao wharf near the police station, and hit boats, including one owned by the Ha'apai Governor's Office and the Ministry of Education which were torn from their moorings and swept adrift about 100 metres into the ocean. The mooring lines of an oil tanker were also snapped by the strong waves and the boat went adrift.

Inspector Peleki said he felt the earthquake that lasted about a minute around 5 am in the morning. When the waves arrived he said it was fortunate that most of the children were already in school and were not wandering along the seafront. Others also managed to evacuate to higher areas.

He said no other damage had been reported in the outer islands of Lifuka.

Meanwhile, in Vava'u no unusal waves were reported.