A magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck near Tonga at a shallow depth of about 10 km, but U.S. tsunami authorities said no tsunami was expected.
The temblor was recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey just off Tonga’s islands, with local reports saying it was felt in parts of Vava’u and the town of Neiafu. Authorities including the U.S. tsunami warning system and Tonga’s meteorological service assessed the event quickly and concluded a damaging tsunami was unlikely, removing the need for widespread coastal evacuations. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties, and officials encouraged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks and to follow local guidance.
Seismologists noted the quake’s shallow focus can produce strong shaking locally even when it does not generate a tsunami, so assessments rely on depth and fault motion as well as magnitude. Emergency services and monitoring agencies said they would continue to watch seismic activity in the region and update the public if conditions changed.