Earthquake Hits Tonga, no Damage Reported
Date: 04-May-06
Country: TONGA
Author: Mary Fonua
The quake, measuring 8.1, struck 95 miles (155 km) south of Tonga's Neiafu island at 4.26 a.m. local time (1526 GMT), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre," said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Tongan officials said they were checking outer islands in the group, particularly the low-lying Hapai Islands, which were near the epicentre. The Tonga islands are an archipelago east of Australia, southeast of Fiji and northeast of New Zealand.
The quake raised fears of a major natural disaster similar to that caused by the 9.15 magnitude quake on Dec. 26, 2004, which generated giant tsunami waves across the Indian Ocean that killed more than 230,000 people.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami warning for Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and other South Pacific states, but there were no reports of abnormally large waves, local police and media said.
A large wave would have hit Suva, Fiji, at 1713 GMT and Gisborne, New Zealand, at 1821 GMT and the center later cancelled its tsunami warning.
It said some coastal areas in Hawaii could experience small sea-level changes and strong or unusual currents lasting up to several hours from 11:33 a.m. Hawaiian time (2133 GMT).
The earthquake temporarily cut power in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa and tipped objects from shelves but caused no major damage or injuries.
A police officer in Tonga told Britain's Sky Television it was the largest tremor for over 20 years, while a resident in Tonga said he felt tremors lasting more than 30 seconds.
Fiji radio in the capital Suva said there were no initial reports of damage. "There have been no reports of any problems, but it is early in the morning," said a reporter for Fiji's FM96 radio station.
A policeman in the Samoan capital Apia said: "Nothing has been reported in Apia so far. Everything is normal now."
(Additional reporting by Michael Perry, Gyles Beckford and Kazanori Takada)
