Tsunami warning lifted after 7.1 magnitude earthquake near Tonga

After an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck in the sea around 207 km (128 miles) from the capital, a tsunami warning was issued by the government of Tonga on Friday. The government of Tonga has also warned residents to move inland to higher ground. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), at a depth […]

by Madhvi Jha - November 12, 2022, 10:30 am

After an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck in the sea around 207 km (128 miles) from the capital, a tsunami warning was issued by the government of Tonga on Friday.

The government of Tonga has also warned residents to move inland to higher ground.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), at a depth of 24.8 km (15.4 miles) the earthquake struck in the sea at about 207 km (128.6 miles) east of south-east of Neiafu.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) for American Samoa, a tsunami advisory was issued.

Meanwhile, within 300 km of the epicentre along the coasts of Niue and Tonga, hazardous tsunami waves are possible from the earthquake.

Moreover, residents are also warned by the Tonga’s meteorological service and asked them to move inland.

On the Facebook page, Tonga’s meteorological service said, “An urgent tsunami advisory is now in force for all of Tonga due to a strong earthquake being felt in the Kingdom tonight. Please move inland immediately for further advice.”

Earlier in January, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption triggered a tsunami  in which thousands of villages and resorts were destroyed. In the incident, 105,000 people were knocked out and three people were killed.