M7.6 Earthquake Shakes Tonga, Tsunami Warning Alarm Turned On

JAKARTA - A magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook Neiafu, Tonga, Tuesday morning, and triggered a "dangerous" tsunami warning in the South Pacific archipelago.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake occurred 153 kilometers west of Neiafu at a depth of 237.5 kilometers. Quoted from Anadolu, there have been no reports of casualties or major damage due to the earthquake.

However, the Tonga Meteorological Service issued a national warning regarding the potential tsunami. The agency also stated that the earthquake was felt throughout the Tonga region.

"A dangerous tsunami can occur in a matter of minutes," the agency said in a statement on the X platform.

Local residents are asked to immediately evacuate to a safer place.

Neiafu is the second largest city in Tonga with a population of around 4,000. The city is located in a deep water harbor on the south coast of Vava'u, the northern region of Tonga.