Initial 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits close to Tonga in the South Pacific, according to USGS

Strong Earthquake Hits Near Tonga

A significant earthquake, measured at a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, struck close to Tonga in the South Pacific on Tuesday. It led to evacuations along the coast, though there wasn’t a widespread tsunami warning issued.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred in the evening local time, about 220 kilometers deep. Earthquakes that happen at shallower depths are typically felt more intensely at the surface.

The epicenter was located at sea, approximately 150 miles west of Neiafu, which is Tonga’s second-largest town.

So far, there haven’t been any immediate reports of damage.

Tonga’s National Disaster Risk Management Agency advised residents of the low-lying islands to swiftly move to higher ground or further inland.

A post on the agency’s Facebook page urged people to stay away from beaches and low-lying coastal regions until further notice.

Interestingly, the USGS has not issued any tsunami warnings for the area. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii confirmed that there was no tsunami risk because the quake occurred far below the Earth’s surface.

Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago, comprises 171 islands and is home to a little over 100,000 residents, most of whom live on the main island of Tongatapu. The earthquake was centered near the Vava’u Island Group.

Hotel staff at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku’alofa, located on the beachfront of Tongatapu, mentioned they hadn’t heard of any damage. One employee described the experience saying, “The whole building shook. There was no further damage. Everything was okay.”

As for Tongan police, they did not immediately respond to inquiries sent via email.

Tonga is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for its seismic activity and volcanoes. A tsunami caused by a volcanic eruption in 2022 tragically claimed three lives.