A powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the magnitude scale hit the Tonga region on Tuesday, sending a shiver down the South Pacific island chain. The earthquake, which hit at a significant depth of more than 235 km, had its epicentre about 153 km west of the island of Neiafu, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.
While the sheer scale of the quake was enough to cause alarm, its depth appears to have been a saving grace; the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed there is no tsunami threat, as the disturbance occurred too deep within the Earth's crust to displace the ocean floor.
This latest strike follows a restless 24 hours for the region, coming just a day after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake rattled Tonga’s Hihifo district. That earlier quake was much shallower, recorded at a depth of roughly 80 kilometres. Fortunately, local authorities in the islands — a sprawling chain of 171 landmasses — have yet to receive any immediate reports of casualties or significant structural damage.
The seismic activity hasn't been confined to the Pacific. On Monday afternoon, Nepal’s Sudurpaschim province was jolted by a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, centered near the Rayal area of Bajhang. Residents in the neighbouring districts of Bajura and Baitadi also reported feeling the tremors at around 1:14 pm. This marks the second time in a week that the province has been hit, following a magnitude 4.0 quake that struck the Darchula district on March 17.
For Nepal, such tremors are a grimly familiar part of life. Ranked as the 11th most earthquake-prone nation globally, the Himalayan country sits atop some of the world’s most volatile tectonic boundaries. While this week’s quakes resulted in no reported loss of life, the frequency of these events serves as a constant reminder of the vulnerability of those living in these active seismic zones.
Also read: Earthquake of 4.2 magnitude jolts Doda
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