6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes off Tonga in Pacific Ocean, USGS Says

Despite the amplitude of the quake, which, according to the Richter scale is considered "strong", scientists forecast no tsunami in the area.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck off the Kingdom of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said on late Wednesday.

Prelim M6.4 Earthquake Tonga Oct-01 01:13 UTC, updates https://t.co/B3F1DxTnGC

— USGS Tweet Earthquake Dispatch (@USGSted) October 1, 2020

According to seismologists, the quake occurred at a depth of 35 kilometres and was registered 37 kilometres northeast of the village of Pangai on the western coast of the island of Lifuka.

M 6.4 - 37 km NNE of #Pangai , #Tonga
2020-10-01 01:13:37 (UTC)
19.495°S 174.225°W
35.0 km depth#Earthquake pic.twitter.com/tb7yFlAvzI

— Nature of Terrestrial Planet (地球型惑星の自然) (@TaTohru) October 1, 2020

There has been no further information so far concerning possible casualties or damage resulting from the quake, while earthquakes starting with 6.0 magnitude can cause moderate to strong damage, especially to poor structures.

No tsunami alert has been declared.

The Kingdom of Tonga is located in a seismically active zone known as the Ring of Fire and regularly suffers from powerful earthquakes.