Moderate 5.9 quake shakes Tonga

A moderate magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the South Pacific near Tonga on Sunday morning, the US Geological Survey reported. No tsunami watch was issued.

A moderate magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the South Pacific near Tonga on Sunday morning, the US Geological Survey reported. No tsunami watch was issued.

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The quake struck at 8:41 on Sunday morning (0111 IST) at a depth of 10 kilometres, the USGS said.

It was centred 65 kilometres east-northeast Hihifo, Tonga, and 645 kilometres north-northeast of the capital's Nuku'alofa, Tonga, the agency reported.

Today's quake was 260 kilometres southwest of Apia, Samoa, which was hit by a quake and a devastating tsunami on
September 29, with at least 183 people killed.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued no tsunami warning after today's quake.