A large earthquake hit Tonga on Friday, triggering a tsunami warning and an immediate evacuation order from the government.
The earthquake began at 11:48 p.m. local time and was at a depth of 24.8 km (15.4 miles) that struck the sea at about 211 km (131 miles) east of southeast of Neiafu, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Hazardous waves from the earthquake were possible within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter along the coasts of Niue and Tonga, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. American Samoa, which is farther north, could also be affected.
In Tonga, reports the New York Times — which experienced a devastating volcanic eruption that led to a tsunami on Jan. 15 — officials issued an urgent national tsunami warning, advising people to get to the third floor of buildings if they were unable to flee to higher ground. Residents posted photographs online of evacuation centers filling up.
The government initially asked locals to flee to higher ground following what it said was a 7.3 magnitude earthquake originating near the town of Neiafu, on the island of Vava’u, before downgrading the alert and urging the public to take “special caution.”
“Based on tide gauge observation in Tonga, a tsunami wave of 10 centimeters was recorded in Neiafu, Vava’u, 6 centimeters in Niuatoputapu, and 5 centimeters recorded in Nuku’alofa tide gauge at 1 a.m. this morning,” the government declared in its latest statement. One centimeter is equal to 0.39 inches.
