An earthquake magnitude 6.6 or 6.9 was felt as a short shake in the Tongan capital at 6:29 am today, February 25.

The quake wobbled furniture very briefly in the Matangi Tonga office.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advised that there is no tsunami warning advisory or threat, from the 6.6 earthquake due to the depth at 259 miles. The earthquake was located 439.8 kms south of Nuku'alofa, Tonga at 23.4 south 178.5 west. The area is in Tongan waters near the Minerva Reefs, on the Lau Ridge close to the Tropic of Capricorn.

Tonga Meteorological Service at 6:46am advised that "Based on information above from the Tonga Geology Seismic Unit and Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC), this event is unlikely to affect Tonga."

Tonga Met stated that the earthquake was magnitude 6.9 - but appeared to be unsure of the date:

"Tsunami Advisory: Tsunami No Threat Advice for Tonga
No: 1
Issued at 6:46pm on 22 January, 2017
An Earthquake has occurred with these parameters:
Origin time:   6:28AM local time on 25 Jan 2017
Coordinates: Lat: 23.38S Lon: 178.63W
Depth 436km/266 Miles
Magnitude: 6.9
Location: 428KM /266 MILE SOUTHWEST OF NUKU’ALOFA

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

Based on information above from the Tonga Geology Seismic Unit and Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC), this event is unlikely to affect Tonga.

This is the final message for this event unless significant changes occur.

NEOC Status:
The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) is not activated.
Normal NEOC contact details apply:
General Enquiries: (676) 26340
Issued by:
Message authorized by the Tonga Meteorological Service
General Enquiries: (676) 35355
Duty Officer: SV/ML"