27 Apr 2014

Strong quake off Tonga

4:44 am on 27 April 2014

There have been no reports of significant damage from a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck off Tonga on Saturday night.

The US Geological Survey says the undersea quake was 71km northeast of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa at a depth of 10km.

Residents reported a short, very violent jolt at around 6pm New Zealand time that knocked items off shelves and sent people fleeing for higher ground.

However the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii did not issue an alert.

There was no immediate tsunami warning.