A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 100 kilometers northeast of the country’s main island.
Following the tremor, authorities issued a tsunami warning for Tonga’s islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that waves could rise significantly within a 300-kilometer radius of the epicenter. However, the warning was later lifted.
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There have been no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage. The German Geological Survey confirmed that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Tonga, an archipelago consisting of 171 islands, has a population of nearly 100,000 people, with the majority residing on Tongatapu Island. The nation is located approximately 3,500 kilometers east of Australia’s coastline.
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