There is no tsunami threat after the magnitude 4.7 earthquake hit off the east coast of Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu and northwest of ‘Eua island this evening, according to Tonga Met Services at the Fua’amotu International Airport.
“Based on preliminary earthquake information from seis comp, tide gauge readings and advice from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PRWC), a small tsunami wave is not likely to pose a threat to Tonga”, it said.
The Ministry of Infrastructure has confirmed the earthquake on its Facebook account.
Tongatapu residents have reported their experience and reaction toward the earthquake on social media.
One resident in Houma, Tongatapu has just described the incident to Kaniva News as “significant” and “long”.
Meanwhile, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake was reported yesterday August 17 and it was 133 km from Nuku’alofa at 3:29 pm.
This evening’s earthquake reported in Tonga comes after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Russia this morning, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu.
The quake struck at about 9.10am in Hawaii over 50 miles off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka region at a depth of about 32 miles, officials said.
“Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii,” PTWC officials said in an alert.
