News | International
2 Apr 2025 12:43
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Magnitude-7.1 earthquake hits Tonga, tsunami threat cancelled

    The US Tsunami Warning Centre earlier warned waves were possible within 300 kilometres of the epicentre, which struck approximately 100 kilometres off the coast of Tonga.

    31 March 2025


    A magnitude-7 earthquake has hit near Tonga, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the Pacific island country.

    The US Tsunami Warning Centre later cancelled its tsunami advisory, saying the threat had passed.

    It said small fluctuations in wave height were detected at two buoys in the area.

    It had earlier warned tsunami waves were possible for coasts located within 300 kilometres of the earthquake epicentre.

    Geoscience Australia said the quake struck about 100 kilometres north-east of Tonga about 11:18pm on Sunday.

    The US Geological Survey said it hit at a depth of 10 kilometres.

    The earthquake's epicentre was closer to, and felt more strongly on, the island of Ha'apai than Tongatapu, where the capital Nuku'alofa is located.

    Pita Taufatofua, the governor of Ha'apai, said he had never felt an earthquake that strong.

    "Many things falling off table and shelves, photos falling off walls, whole house shaking. Was hard to stand up," he said.

    "Went for a very long time! Never felt an earthquake go for that long.

    "Thank God we don't have big high rises here in Tonga."

    He also offered good wishes for those affected by the earthquake in Myanmar.

    Nukualofa resident Salote Sisifa said she was anticipating a tsunami warning due to the strength of the quake.

    "Within two minutes of it happening, the siren went off and we felt we had to go," said Ms Sisifa, who is the CEO of Netball Tonga. 

    "It was just so good to see the public reacting the way they did."

    In a tsunami warning on social media, the Tonga Meteorological Service urged residents to either move to higher ground, further inland, or to the third floor of a reinforced concrete building.

    New Zealand's tsunami buoys off Tonga showed a brief 70cm increase in water height.

    The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no threat to the Australian mainland.

    Tonga is made up of 171 islands and is more than 3,500 kilometres off of Australia's east coast.

    © 2025 ABC, NZCity


     Other International News
     02 Apr: US attorney-general orders prosecutors to seek death penalty for Luigi Mangione
     02 Apr: Yuki Tsunoda discusses F1 Japanese Grand Prix after Red Bull promotion
     02 Apr: In a moment to show leadership, Myanmar's junta chief drops bombs and shuts out journalists
     01 Apr: Aid agencies struggling to reach most in need after Myanmar earthquake
     01 Apr: Pope approves canonisation of Peter To Rot, who will be PNG's first saint
     01 Apr: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been guilty of embezzling EU funds. Here's what she was found to have done
     01 Apr: Thousands of Syria's Alawites flee as armed factions seek revenge
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Blues number eight Hoskins Sotutu is putting any All Blacks test aspirations on hold as he prioritises reviving his Super Rugby side's one-win-five-loss start to the season More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Buy Now Pay Later service Laybuy is back - with the help of its new Swedish owner Klarna More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A man's appeared in court, accused of injuring police officers by ramming their vehicles, with a child in his car last night 12:37

    Health & Safety:
    A prescription weight-loss drug embraced by celebrities now has the green light in New Zealand 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Sir Elton John has been thinking about how much he "doesn't want to die" 12:18

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps are 64 for one in the eighth over of the second one-day cricket international against Pakistan in Hamilton 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Dame Helen Mirren has condemned the James Bond franchise as "sexist" 11:48

    Entertainment:
    Rebecca Loos has claimed that she "never lied" about her supposed affair with David Beckham 11:18

    National:
    William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage 11:17

    Entertainment:
    Pregnant Jesy Nelson "can't leave hospital" just yet 10:48

    Business:
    Buy Now Pay Later service Laybuy is back - with the help of its new Swedish owner Klarna  10:47

    Health & Safety:
    An obstetrician's warning the maternity system's too stretched - to cope with increasing how long women can stay in hospital after giving birth 10:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd