In the South Pacific, a strong marine earthquake struck on Tuesday. Initially, geologists reported a magnitude of 7.6, a figure that is often revised later.
The shaking occurred at 17:37 local time (05:37 German time). Its epicenter was 273 km north-northwest of Nukuʻalofa, Tonga’s capital, and 158 km west of Neiafu. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami risk because the quake was too deep in the Earth’s interior.
Globally, about 18 earthquakes of this magnitude happen each year.