Other
•
Strong 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Near Tonga; Tsunami Warning Lifted
Strong 7.0 Earthquake Shakes Tonga, Tsunami Warning Lifted
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga early Monday morning, prompting a brief tsunami warning that was later lifted. The quake, which hit at 1:18 a.m. local time, caused slight damage and brief evacuations on the Pacific island nation. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located the epicenter approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Tongatapu, the main island and home to the capital city, Nuku’alofa, and about 50 miles southeast of Pangai. The USGS estimated the quake's depth at 29 kilometers (18 miles). Initial reports suggested light to moderate shaking in parts of Tongatapu and Pangai.
Following the quake, tsunami sirens sounded, urging residents to move inland. Live video from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission showed people evacuating to higher ground. Social media posts from Tongans described items falling from shelves and walls, with one Taekwondo athlete, Pita Taufatofua, noting the shaking was unusually prolonged and difficult to endure. Despite the initial alarm, Tongans reported maintaining phone contact across most islands in the archipelago.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii initially issued a warning, citing the possibility of hazardous waves. However, the PTWC, along with Tonga’s disaster management office, later canceled the warning after detecting only minor sea changes. Hours after the initial quake, a second, 6.1 magnitude tremor struck the same region.
Mafua Maka, director of Tonga’s disaster management office, reported no casualties or significant structural damage to Radio New Zealand several hours after the event. Further assessments were planned for daylight. Tonga, comprised of 171 islands with a population of just over 100,000, mostly residing on Tongatapu, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The nation experienced a deadly tsunami in 2022 following a volcanic eruption, resulting in three fatalities. The early Monday earthquake follows a 7.7 magnitude quake in Myanmar on Friday, which caused widespread devastation and significant loss of life.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga early Monday morning, prompting a brief tsunami warning that was later lifted. The quake, which hit at 1:18 a.m. local time, caused slight damage and brief evacuations on the Pacific island nation. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located the epicenter approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Tongatapu, the main island and home to the capital city, Nuku’alofa, and about 50 miles southeast of Pangai. The USGS estimated the quake's depth at 29 kilometers (18 miles). Initial reports suggested light to moderate shaking in parts of Tongatapu and Pangai.
Following the quake, tsunami sirens sounded, urging residents to move inland. Live video from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission showed people evacuating to higher ground. Social media posts from Tongans described items falling from shelves and walls, with one Taekwondo athlete, Pita Taufatofua, noting the shaking was unusually prolonged and difficult to endure. Despite the initial alarm, Tongans reported maintaining phone contact across most islands in the archipelago.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii initially issued a warning, citing the possibility of hazardous waves. However, the PTWC, along with Tonga’s disaster management office, later canceled the warning after detecting only minor sea changes. Hours after the initial quake, a second, 6.1 magnitude tremor struck the same region.
Mafua Maka, director of Tonga’s disaster management office, reported no casualties or significant structural damage to Radio New Zealand several hours after the event. Further assessments were planned for daylight. Tonga, comprised of 171 islands with a population of just over 100,000, mostly residing on Tongatapu, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The nation experienced a deadly tsunami in 2022 following a volcanic eruption, resulting in three fatalities. The early Monday earthquake follows a 7.7 magnitude quake in Myanmar on Friday, which caused widespread devastation and significant loss of life.
