A powerful earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, hit near the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake occurred 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of the village of Pangai. Because of this earthquake, tsunami waves have been reported, and warnings have also been issued for the nearby island of Niue.
Tsunami waves that could reach heights of 0.3 to 1 meter (about 1 to 3 feet) above normal tide levels are possible along some coastlines of Niue and Tonga, the US tsunami warning system reported. They had earlier warned that dangerous tsunami waves could occur within 300 kilometers of the quake’s epicenter along the shores of Tonga.
The Tonga National Disaster Agency advised residents to avoid beaches and shorelines. They urged people living in low-lying areas to move to higher ground or further inland. The Tonga National Disaster Risk Management Office shared this information on Facebook.
Earthquakes are common in Tonga, which is a low-lying group of islands home to about 100,000 people. This area sits on the Ring of Fire, a region known for its high levels of tectonic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific Ocean.
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