Tonga has now issued an official tsunami alert for parts of the Kingdom, following a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia.
This update comes after earlier reassurances from Tonga’s Meteorological Service that there was no tsunami threat to the country.
The National Tsunami Warning Centre has placed the northern islands of Niuas and Vava’u under active alert, with estimated wave arrival times between 10pm and 11pm tonight.
Officials have warned that the initial wave may not be the largest, and coastal residents are urged to prepare for immediate evacuation. Mariners are advised to move vessels to deep water as a precaution.
The situation evolved rapidly after the U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the earthquake’s magnitude from 8.7 to 8.8, prompting widespread tsunami alerts across the Pacific
Senior officer Laitia Fifita from Tonga Meteorological Services confirmed the shift to a tsunami watch this afternoon, advising residents—especially in northern coastal areas—to stay away from the shorelines.
Emergency sirens have been activated, and wave heights are estimated to range between 30 centimetres and one metre
The earthquake struck approximately 133 kilometres southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia’s Kamchatka region.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued alerts for several Pacific nations, including Japan, Hawaii, American Samoa, Fiji, and New Zealand
In Hawaii, coastal evacuations are underway, with the first wave expected to arrive at 7.17pm local time.
Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) is actively monitoring the situation and has promised further updates after the estimated wave arrival time.
Authorities are urging the public to remain alert and follow all official instructions to ensure safety.
