The area near Tonga was hit by an extremely strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 at a depth of 237 kilometers. The authorities have not registered any casualties or major damage yet, but they are monitoring the situation.
A very strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 hit the area near the Tonga archipelago in the South Pacific on Tuesday, AFP reported, writes TASR.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was located in the sea, 153 kilometers west of the city of Neiafu, the second largest city of the island country, and at a depth of about 237 kilometers. Earthquakes at shallower depths are more pronounced on the surface, AFP added. There are no reports of casualties, injuries or possible material damage yet. Due to the fact that the epicenter of the earthquake was located deep, there is no threat of tidal waves – tsunami.
Tonga is located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is characterized by high seismic and volcanic activity. The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai submarine volcano, which is part of the active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, is also located in this area. This volcano became famous for its eruption in December 2021 to January 2022, which caused extensive damage and tsunami waves in the region.
