No tsunami threat from M6 earthquake

Magnitude 6 earthquake located 136km west of Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga. 4:03am, 16 December 2024. Image: USGS.

There was no tsunami threat from a earthquake, Magnitude 6, centred 136 km west of Neiafu, Vava'u, and north west of Ha'apai at 4:03am today, 16 December.

In an advisory issued at 4:09am the Tonga National Tsunami Centre reported that an Earthquake had occurred with these parameters:

Origin time: 4:03am (16th December, 2024) Tonga Local Time

Coordinates: Lat: 18.5 South,  Lon: 174.9 West

Depth: 246KM

Magnitude: 6.0

Location: Northwest of Ha’apai.

“The above magnitude is provisional and may be increased or decreased as more seismic data becomes available.

“Based on preliminary earthquake information above, a tsunami wave is unlikely to affect Tonga.

The issue of the advisory was authorized by the Tonga Meteorological Service