7.9 magnitude quake hits Tonga

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-20-2009 15:19

An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Tonga on Friday morning.

The New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences says the quake hit at 6:17 in the morning, local Tongan time.

An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Tonga on Friday morning. (CCTV.com)

Its epicenter was some 210 kilometers from the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

A tsunami alert was issued after the earthquake, but has since been canceled. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Before Friday's earthquake, an undersea volcano had been erupting for days near Tonga.

Scientists sailed to inspect the shooting smoke, steam and ash thousands of meters into the sky above the South Pacific ocean.

Geologists say that spectacular columns are spewing out of the sea near the southwest coast off the main island of Tongatapu, an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei