A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck in the South Pacific Ocean near Tonga on Tuesday evening local time, prompting authorities to urge residents to move to higher ground. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake at a depth of approximately 148 miles, centered 95 miles west of Neiafu, the second-largest town in the island nation.
Despite the strength of the earthquake, there were no immediate reports of damage. A staff member at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku'alofa described the building shaking but noted no further damage. Tonga's National Disaster Risk Management Office warned all residents to move inland and avoid beaches and low-lying coastal areas until an all-clear is given.
New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency said it was assessing whether a tsunami had been generated, noting that if so, it would not reach New Zealand for at least two hours. However, the USGS did not issue a tsunami warning, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated there was no threat due to the earthquake's depth.
Tonga, an archipelago of 171 islands with a population of just over 100,000, lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for seismic activity. In 2022, a volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami that killed three people in Tonga.
