A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck near the island nation of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, prompting initial tsunami warnings that were later lifted. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake occurred at a depth of 142.6 miles (230 km), which reduced the likelihood of a significant tsunami.
Tonga’s National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) issued evacuation advisories, urging residents to move to higher ground. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later confirmed there was no tsunami threat due to the earthquake’s depth. The quake’s epicenter was located 153 km (95 miles) west of Neiafu, the second-largest town in Tonga, but no immediate damage was reported.
Tonga, an archipelago of 171 islands with a population of over 100,000, lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to seismic activity. A 2022 volcanic eruption-triggered tsunami killed three people in the nation. The island nation is situated 1,100 miles (1,800 km) northeast of New Zealand.