Earthquake prompts tsunami warning in Tonga

A powerful earthquake struck the Tonga region on Thursday evening prompting a tsunami warning and evacuation order.

The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck 207.8 km east-southeast of Neiafu, Tonga at 11:48 pm local time. It was at a depth of 10 km.

Two people died as a result of the earthquake.

A tsunami wave of 10 cm was recorded near the coast. There was also a risk of tsunami waves in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna.

The tsunami threat has since passed.