A tsunami warning has been canceled after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Tonga

Written by Catherine Siasaw

Tonga Civil Defense authorities called for a major evacuation of low-lying areas in Tongatapu and Ha'apai this morning, and urged people to move inland to higher ground, after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake was felt in Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Fa'a. 9:47 AM (TOT) today, May 27, 2024.

An emergency tsunami alert issued at 9:55 a.m. local time was later canceled at 11:00 a.m., after the tsunami threat had passed. There have been no reports yet of damage or injuries.

National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Deputy Director Moana Kiwa told Matangi Tonga this afternoon that they had not received any reports of damage on Tongatapu or the outer islands. Their main concern was Ha'apai, closest to the epicenter.

“We found that there was no damage in Ha'apai and there were no reports of a wave reaching inland,” she said.

The epicenter was 196 km north-northeast of Nuku'alofa, 32 km north-northwest of Ha'apai, 91 km north-northeast of Nomuka, 107 km south-southwest of Neafu, 412 km south of Niuatuputapu, and 462 km south of Niafu. The earthquake was 156 km deep and had a Mercalli magnitude of 6, meaning strong shaking and light damage.

Tsunami alert

A tsunami emergency alert was activated by the National Tsunami Warning Center a few minutes after the quake struck at 9:47 a.m., warning residents of the potential for a dangerous tsunami within minutes of the quake. Sirens sounded in the capital, Nuku'alofa, with a radio broadcast: “You are advised to evacuate immediately indoors to higher ground or to the third floor of a steel or concrete building until the threat has passed. Sailors are advised to move to deeper ground.” The ocean is far from coral reefs.”

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) was activated following the alerts.

Schools in the capital were evacuated and thousands of students headed to pre-designated evacuation points.

NEOC's Moana Kiwa said some schools had been evacuated to the nearest high-rise buildings and the highest ground on Tongatapu, which includes the Tonga Broadcasting Commission rooftop, Matakiwa, Api Mataka and Teofiva'a Sports Stadium.

In Haapai, people were evacuated to the Old Haapai Hospital and Taofahau Pilolevu College.

Traffic jams occurred in parts of the capital as parents tried to reach their children and closed offices.

Tsunami cancellation

The tsunami warning was canceled at 11:00 a.m., about an hour after the warning sounded.

“Based on tide gauge readings and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advisories, the main tsunami wave has now passed,” NEOC advised.

Meanwhile, Tonga Met urged people to remain vigilant. “Be aware that although the main tsunami threat has passed, unusual small waves, abnormal currents and tides may continue to affect some beaches and harbors for hours.”

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has been activated and remains on standby following a debriefing this afternoon.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos