On Monday, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the Pacific Island country of Tonga, sparking immediate concerns and a tsunami warning.
The tremor struck about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Tonga’s main island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Initially, Germany’s GFZ Centre for Geosciences reported the earthquake as a 6.6 magnitude event, but the USGS later revised it to 7.1. The quake hit at a depth of just six miles, much shallower than the Boxing Day tsunami earthquake, which struck 18 miles deep.
Shallow quakes tend to shake the ground more intensely, raising the chances of a major tsunami.
Tsunami Threats and Impacted Areas
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre quickly issued a warning about the possibility of hazardous waves reaching coasts within 300 kilometers (185 miles) of the epicenter.
Although no significant damage reports have surfaced yet, as the quake struck during the night, over 2,000 people have reported feeling the tremor.
The shaking varied from strong to light, but thankfully, few residents were exposed to immediate danger, and the risk of landslides remains minimal.
The US Geological Survey also pointed out that both Fiji and Niue were affected by the earthquake.
Despite the magnitude of the event, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to Australia, which is over 3,500 kilometers (2,000 miles) away.
Tonga’s Geographic and Demographic Context
Tonga, a Polynesian country consisting of 171 islands and home to roughly 100,000 people, is situated far from many major landmasses.
The majority of the population resides on the island of Tongatapu, which is located more than 3,500 kilometers from Australia’s east coast.
This earthquake comes just two days after another powerful quake hit Myanmar, registering a 7.7 magnitude and resulting in significant casualties.
As of the latest updates, more than 1,600 people have died in Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, with the numbers likely to continue rising.
A Tragic Aftershock in Myanmar
The Myanmar earthquake, which occurred on Friday, shook the region severely.
It was followed by a second quake, registering 6.4 on the Richter scale just 12 minutes later.
The government has declared a state of emergency in six regions and states across the country.
With the death toll climbing rapidly, it’s evident that confirming the exact number of casualties across such a large area remains a significant challenge.
The tragic events highlight the urgency of disaster response efforts in the region, which are being complicated by ongoing aftershocks.