Strong quake hits Tonga

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The magnitude 6.6 quake hit the coast of the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Tuesday.

As per the United States Geological Survey, the shallow undersea quake hit about 13 kilometres west of Neiafu, the second-largest town of the country.

Temblor is not expected to have caused significant damage. The quake was not felt in Nuku’alofa.

Hawaii-based the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says there is no threat of tsunami though.

The second quake of 5.5 Magnitude was also recorded a few minutes later.

Earlier in August, a 6.1Magnitude quake hit northwest of Tonga. There were no reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which hit at a depth of 49 km and 47 km northwest of the town of Neiafu.

Earlier in 2006, a major earthquake occurred in Tonga.

Following this, the tsunami had also occurred in the region. The quake had a magnitude of 7.0 and a focal depth of 55 km. The epicentre of the quake was found around 160 km of Neiafu. The quake was considered as strongest felt quake so far.

The quake’s strong motions lasted for about 90 seconds at 180 miles north of Nuku’alofa. A series of aftershocks with magnitude up to 6.0 and 5.4 were also recorded. The US Geographical Survey reported that at least six aftershocks occurred near Tonga, while others were recorded near Vanuatu and Fiji. The strongest aftershock was reported at 12.25 am local time and had a focal depth of about 24 miles. No fatality was reported.

Tonga sits atop one of the most earthquake-prone regions of the world, where the Pacific Plate and Australia-India Plate come together.

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