5.8 magnitude earthquake strikes southeast of Tonga: USGS

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast of the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast of the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake hit 277 km south-southeast of the capital Nuku’alofa at a depth of 66 km. ((USGS))

The quake was said to be of magnitude 6.1 in initial reports, but USGS later lowered the intensity to 5.8.

The earthquake struck in Nuku’alofa in Tonga , around 960km southeast of Fiji. (USGS)

The quake hit 277 km (172.12 miles) south-southeast of the capital Nuku’alofa at a depth of 66 km, the USGS said.

Tonga is spread about 800 km (500 mi) in a north-south line – about a third of the distance from New Zealand to Hawaii.

The Tongan islands are made either from a limestone base formed from uplifted coral formations or a limestone overlaying a volcanic base.

The tremors were felt hours after a 7.8-magnitude quake rocked the central coast of Ecuador, killing at least 77 people and injuring hundreds more on Saturday night.