Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes near Tonga: USGS

24/7 Space News

Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes near Tonga: USGS

Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes near Tonga: USGS
by AFP Staff Writers
Wellington (AFP) May 26, 2024

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake rattled the Pacific nation of Tonga on Monday, the United States Geological Survey said, but there was no threat of a tsunami.

The quake struck at 9:47 am local time from a depth of about 112 kilometres (69 miles), according to the USGS, and was centred in a patch of ocean about 198 kilometres (123 miles) north of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa.

There were no immediate reports of damage in Tonga.

It struck near the sparsely populated islands of Kao and Tofua, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said "there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake".

Local resident Mary Lyn Fonua who was already at work in Nuku'alofa, told AFP the two-storey building she was in swayed strongly for a few seconds.

"Then we evacuated to higher ground, locals are feeling nervous," she added.

Earthquakes are common in Tonga, a low-lying archipelago home to around 100,000 people that straddles the seismic Ring of Fire.

The Ring of Fire is an arc of intense tectonic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters

RELATED CONTENT

The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.

Powerful quake hits Guatemala, no victims reported
Guatemala City (AFP) May 12, 2024
A powerful earthquake Sunday shook Guatemala near its southwestern border with Mexico, causing some buildings to collapse but claiming no known victims, the country's National Institute for Seismology reported. The quake, with a magnitude of 6.5, struck at 5:39 am (1139 GMT). Its epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the coast of San Marcos department and at a depth of 25 kilometers, the institute said. A bulletin from the San Marcos government said no victims had bee ... read more

UCF develops algorithms for space and sea exploration

NASA announces $6BN in contracts for Spacecraft Acquisition Services

Office of Space Commerce Extends TraCSS Project

Blue Origin flies thrill seekers to space, including oldest astronaut

Boeing Starliner crewed test flight delayed indefinitely

Russia jails hypersonic scientist for 14 years on treason charges

NASA and Sierra Space deliver Dream Chaser to Florida for launch

Ariane 6 will launch 3D Printing technology into space

Redwire to lead Mars imaging study for NASA

Astrobotic to conduct NASA JPL studies for Mars missions

NASA and ESA Collaborate on ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover

NASA, ESA will search for 'signs of life' on Mars

Zebrafish on China's space station reported to be in good condition

China sends experimental satellite into orbit with Long March 4C rocket

International Support for China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Mission

Shenzhou XVII astronauts safely back from Tiangong space station

SpacePNT validates its PNT technology in LEO orbit

Iridium-Connected Drones Receive FAA BVLOS Waiver

ATT and AST SpaceMobile Sign Agreement for Satellite Broadband Network

Future spacecraft control centre unveiled by ESA

Making steel with electricity

Amazon to invest 15.7 bn euros in Spain

HySpex chosen to supply hyperspectral camera for space mission

EU opens probe into Chinese imports of key amino acid

ASU researchers address methane mystery of exoplanet

NASA Tool Gets Ready to Image Faraway Planets

Webb reveals details of exoplanet's interior

Researchers Discover New Insights into Carbene Formation

NASA's Juno captures detailed images of Europa's surface

New Horizons expand research with unique observations

UAF scientist clarifies Jupiter's magnetospheric dynamics with new data

Webb telescope details weather patterns on distant exoplanet

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.