Magnitude-8.0 Quake Hits Tonga; Tsunami Warning Issued for New Zealand and Fiji

A powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Tonga island chain in the Pacific Ocean early Thursday morning, prompting US authorities to issue a tsunami warning for New Zealand and Fiji.

The US Geological Survey placed the epicenter roughly 155 kilometers south of Neiafu and about 160 km northeast of the capital, Nuku'Alofa, at a depth of 16 kilometers. Eight represents the top rating on the agency's scale.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii urged both countries to take immediate precautions. A broader tsunami watch was extended across the wider Pacific region.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2006, in its own words.