A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck close to Tonga, triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted for the Pacific island nation.
The earthquake struck early Monday morning local time, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the main island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
After warning that dangerous waves might occur, Hawaii’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later declared that there was no longer a risk of tsunamis.
Following the 1:18 a.m. earthquake, inhabitants were advised to relocate inland by tsunami sirens, according to the Talanoa o Tonga news website. Initial reports of damage were nonexistent.
According to the report, residents of the Ha’apai island group had peacefully relocated to higher ground.
A little over 100,000 people call Tonga, a nation of 171 islands in Polynesia; the majority of them reside on Tongatapu, the biggest island.
Off the east coast of Australia, it is more than 3,500 kilometers (2,000 miles).
