An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale has hit the island nation of Tonga in the Southern Pacific Ocean on Friday (20th March). Officials said that, the earthquake hit at 6.17 am in the morning and the epicenter was at 210 kilometers south-southeast of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa. There are no reports either of casualties or of material damaged. Following the quake, a regional tsunami alarm was issued for Tonga, Kermadec and Fiji Islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. But later it was withdrawn.

 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said that, sea level readings confirmed that a tsunami was generated and might have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake's epicenter. The quake occurred near fault lines in the Pacific "Ring of Fire".  Here, continental plates in the earth's crust meet and earthquakes and volcanic are common activities.

 

A number of earthquakes have been felt in Nuku'alofa recently. An undersea volcano also has been erupting off the coast of the main island Tongatapu, though it was not considered to be a threat to people in the area. In a quite similar catastrophe in December 2004, an undersea earthquake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people around the Indian Ocean.