A strong, shallow 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Tonga's northern Niuafo'ou island shortly after noon. No tsunami reports have been issued at this time.

Tonga's Meterological Office at Fua'amotu confirmed that the 6.2 earthqauke was recorded shortly after noon today at 12:07pm in northern Tongan waters, located 238 miles WNW of Neiafu, at a depth of 8.5 km.

The US Geological Service located the centre at 174km WNW of Hihifo, Niuatoputapu at 15.5 degrees South and 175.3 degrees West. This is about 30km from Niuafo'ou island. The USGS downgraded the quake magnitude to 6.2 after first reports indicated a 6.8 strength

The earthquake was felt by Niuafo'ou residents. Meola Vaka at the Western Union office at 'Esia said she felt an earthquake this morning that lasted for less than a minute. She said there was no unusual volcanic activity evident on the island. No damage has been reported.

Niuafo'ou is a rim volcano only 7 km in diameter, with a population of under 1,000. The last known eruption from the volcano was in 1985.

Meanwhile, Niuatoputapu residents said they did not feel the quake. Loiola Patolo a Vaipoa resident said she was at home and first heard of the quake on the radio but did not feel it. Tiueti Mumui a TCC telephone operator at Hihifo said she was also unaware of the quake at the time.

Tiueti said that there are no landline telephones operating in Hihifo after they were knocked out in the September 2009 earthquake and tsunami. Callers can contact people in Niuatoputapu through cellphones.