Powerful 6.6 Earthquake Rocks Tonga, No Tsunami Risk

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 struck Tonga on May 27, 2023. The quake's epicenter was located 198 kilometers north of Nuku'alofa at a depth of 112 kilometers. No tsunami warnings or immediate damage reports were issued, according to the US Geological Survey.

A strong earthquake struck the South Pacific Island nation of Tonga on Monday, but there were no tsunami warnings or immediate reports of damage.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 when it hit at 9:47 am local time, the US Geological Survey said. Its epicenter was 198 kilometres north of the capital, Nuku'alofa, at a depth of 112 kilometres.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no risk of the quake causing a tsunami.

Tonga sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world's earthquake and volcanic activity occurs.