Tonga warns of 'dangerous' tsunami after 7.6 magnitude earthquake
No immediate reports of casualties or major damage as earthquake felt across the South Pacific Island nation
WASHINGTON / ISTANBUL
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake rattled Neiafu, Tonga, early Tuesday, triggering a warning of a “dangerous” tsunami across the South Pacific Island nation.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck 153 kilometers (95 miles) west of Neiafu.
It occurred at a depth of 237.5 kilometers (147.5 miles).
There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.
However, the Tonga Meteorological Services issued a national warning for a possible tsunami.
It added that the earthquake was felt across the nation.
“A dangerous tsunami could occur in minutes,” it said in a statement on US social media company X, urging people to evacuate to safer places.
Neiafu, the second-largest town in Tonga, has a population of a little less than 4,000 and is located on a deep-water harbor on the south coast of Vavaʻu, the main island of the Vavaʻu archipelago in northern Tonga.
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