7.6 quake shakes Tonga
A deep magnitude‑7.6 earthquake struck near Tonga early Tuesday, triggering sirens in the capital but officials quickly said there was no tsunami threat as aftershocks continue to be monitored. The event highlights persistent seismic risk across the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has local communities on alert while emergency measures are enacted. ( )
USGS logged the event as M7.6 at 04:37:49 UTC with an epicentre 112 km WSW of Neiafu (18.870°S, 175.025°W) and a depth of 236.7 km. (earthquake.usgs.gov) Tonga Geological Services initially reported the quake as M7.2 and described it as offshore to the west of the Vava’u island group at a depth in excess of 200 km. (reliefweb.int) Tonga’s National Disaster Risk Management Office and the Tonga Meteorological Services issued a tsunami alert for all coastal areas following the quake. (kanivatonga.co.nz) The U.S. Embassy in Nukuʻalofa posted an urgent natural disaster alert instructing immediate evacuation inland and advising mariners to move to deep water. (to.usembassy.gov) Authorities later cancelled the tsunami warning for the bulk of the country as ocean conditions stabilised and emergency teams began assessments. (kanivatonga.co.nz) Local monitoring recorded a roughly one‑foot wave at Neiafu, and the last remaining alert for Vavaʻu was reported lifted at about 19:18 local time on March 24. (matangitonga.to) Broadcast footage from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission showed people gathered on the station rooftop in Nukuʻalofa during the event. (usnews.com) Separate clips from Neiafu captured shop interiors with items dislodged and shaking during the tremor. (newstalkzb.co.nz) Seismologists characterized the quake as intermediate‑depth (~237 km), a depth the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cited when saying the event’s depth made a Pacific‑wide tsunami unlikely. (abcnews.com) Relief agencies and the national disaster office said the quake’s depth likely limited surface impact and reported no immediate major infrastructure damage while aftershocks remained under observation. (reliefweb.int)
