Residents of a nation have received a dire warning following a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck in the South Pacific Ocean.
In Tonga, individuals have been advised to relocate to higher ground, while neighboring countries are on alert due to the potential tsunami threat in the region.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake occurred on Tuesday evening local time, with a depth of approximately 148 miles. Deeper earthquakes are usually less perceptible on the surface.
The epicenter of the quake was at sea, 95 miles west of Neiafu, the second-largest town in Tonga, with no immediate reports of damage.
Situated about 1,100 miles northeast of New Zealand, Tonga is now being monitored by New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency to assess any tsunami risk to the country.
Tonga’s National Disaster Risk Management Office has urged all residents in low-lying areas to move promptly to higher ground or inland, avoiding coastlines until an official clearance is given.
Although the USGS did not release a tsunami warning, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii stated that there was no threat of a tsunami due to the earthquake’s significant depth within the Earth.
Tonga, an archipelago in Polynesia, consists of 171 islands with a population of just over 100,000, mainly residing on the main island of Tongatapu. The earthquake was centered closer to the Vava’u island group.
Despite the earthquake, a witness at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku’alofa reported no damage, stating that the building shook but remained intact.
Tonga is positioned along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activities. A tsunami triggered by a volcanic eruption in 2022 resulted in the loss of three lives in the area.