Earthquake 7.9 degrees, causing tsunami warning in the South Pacific

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook the nation of Tonga in the South Pacific today, causing authorities to issue a tsunami warning. But earthquakes do not cause any major damage.

This early morning earthquake has a very strong intensity.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake happened at 7:17 am early this morning in local time, with the epicenter 10 km deep and about 210km from the capital of Tonga, Nuku'alofa.
A strong 5.2-magnitude aftershock was also recorded in the same area, more than 2 hours after the very strong earthquake mentioned above.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning to Tonga, Niue, the Kermadec Islands, the American Samoa Islands and Fiji but withdrew. A resident in the capital Nuku'alofa said there was no sign of major damage from earthquakes or tsunamis.

In an up-to-date warning, the US tsunami warning center said a tsunami had been generated and could attack along the coastline of areas near the epicenter.

In Fiji, the authorities have warned people in coastal areas to move to higher places and require coastal schools to close. Many businesses and government offices also closed until warnings were withdrawn.

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Defense warned people in all coastal areas after the earthquake. Thankfully, the tsunami warning was lifted after the sea level rose only slightly.

Early morning earthquakes occurred near cracks in the volcanic belt of the Pacific Ocean, where earthquakes and volcanic activity frequently occur.

An earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra in December 2004 caused a tsunami, killing 220,000 people. In the South Pacific, at least 52 people were killed in a tsunami in the Solomon Islands in April 2007 after a magnitude 8 earthquake.