Gingersnap
03-19-2009, 05:37 PM
Quake measuring 7.7 reported off Tonga
7.7 magnitude quake off Tonga, U.S. Geological Survey reports
(CNN) -- An earthquake measuring magnitude 7.7 struck off the coast of Tonga early Friday, officials said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a regional tsunami warning for Tonga, Fiji, Niue, the Kermadecs, American Samoa, Samoa and Wallis-Fatuna.
The quake's epicenter was about 213 kilometers (132 miles) south-southeast of Nuku'alofa, Tonga. It struck at 6:17 a.m. local time (6:17 p.m. GMT).
"There's a tsunami in the water, but it's not gonna do much," said Robert Cessaro, a geophysicist with the center, citing data from a deep-ocean gauge.
The warning center said in a statement. "Some coastal areas in Hawaii could experience small non-destructive sea level changes and strong or unusual currents lasting up to several hours."
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/tonga.quake/index.html)
7.7 magnitude quake off Tonga, U.S. Geological Survey reports
(CNN) -- An earthquake measuring magnitude 7.7 struck off the coast of Tonga early Friday, officials said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a regional tsunami warning for Tonga, Fiji, Niue, the Kermadecs, American Samoa, Samoa and Wallis-Fatuna.
The quake's epicenter was about 213 kilometers (132 miles) south-southeast of Nuku'alofa, Tonga. It struck at 6:17 a.m. local time (6:17 p.m. GMT).
"There's a tsunami in the water, but it's not gonna do much," said Robert Cessaro, a geophysicist with the center, citing data from a deep-ocean gauge.
The warning center said in a statement. "Some coastal areas in Hawaii could experience small non-destructive sea level changes and strong or unusual currents lasting up to several hours."
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/tonga.quake/index.html)