“There is no tsunami threat because the earthquake is located too deep inside the earth,” PTWC said.
However, Tonga’s National Emergency Operation Centre put out an urgent tsunami alert for the country.
The quake was at a depth of nearly 238 km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
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The epicentre was about 150 kilometres west of the island of Neiafu, and several hundred kilometres north of Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa.
RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in Tonga said people in the capital heard sirens and were told to relocate away from the coast.
NZ’s National Emergency Management Agency said it had assessed the tsunami risk and decided there was no threat to New Zealand.
– Reuters/RNZ
