Earthquake off Tonga

7.4- magnitude quake strikes off Tonga

Press TV,

23 May, 2013

An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale has struck off Tonga in the South Pacific, but there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage and no tsunami warning has been issued.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the under-sea quake struck at 5:19 a.m. on Thursday (1719 GMT), some 287 kilometers (178 miles) southwest of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, at a depth of 171 kilometers (106 miles). 

Tthe Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement that a “destructive tsunami was not generated based on earthquake and historical tsunami data.”

According to local media, the quake shook buildings in the capital. 

On May 12, the USGS recorded an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale 139 kilometers (86 miles) off the south coast of Tonga’s Vava'u Island. The epicenter of the quake was 353 kilometers (219 miles) north of the capital. 

Tonga, about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) northeast of New Zealand, is vulnerable to earthquakes since it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its seismic and volcanic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.