The tsunami alert was cancelled at 11:00 am today after it was determined that the threat had passed. Deputy Director of the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), Moana Kioa, reported no damage or injuries in Tongatapu or the outer islands, which was closest to the earthquake’s epicenter. Kioa confirmed that there were no significant waves reaching inland, alleviating immediate concerns.
The National Tsunami Warning Centre issued an urgent tsunami alert just before 10 in the morning, prompting immediate evacuations for low-lying areas across Tonga particularly for Tongatapu and Ha’apai after the 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck. Residents were urged to move inland to higher ground, as the quake was strongly felt in Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Vava’u.
Schools in Nuku’alofa were evacuated, with thousands of students moving to designated safe areas. Parents faced traffic congestion as they tried to reach their children, and offices shut down.
The earthquake, centered 196 km north of Nuku’alofa and 32 km northwest of Ha’apai, had a depth of about 156 km and a Mercalli intensity of VI, indicating strong shaking but light damage.
