Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa had a sleepy day today with government schools and the central market closed and few people returning to work, following this morning's tsunami alert and warning for Tonga.

The alert came following a 7.8 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region, to the South of Tonga, at 1903Z (GMT) or Tonga time 8:03am, Thursday July 14, shortly before the business and school day began.

A 1.03m (3.4ft) tsunami wave activity was recorded by gauges at Boat Cove, Raoul Island at 1932Z (8:32am Tonga time) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre NOAA reinforced the warning for Tonga, New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands..

But 27 minutes later, NOAA cancelled the tsunami warning with the advice to remain alert in coastal areas and that after two hours local authorities could assume the threat was passed.

Paula Ma'u the Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information told Matangi Tonga Online today that the Ministry of Education had issued an announcement this morning on radio for all students to return home during the tsunami warning.

He said he had no knowledge of a Government announcement for its civil servants. "But in this kind of situation when it involves the safety of life, the Head of Departments in Government Ministries have the discretion to let employees home for their safety. And that is what I did here with my staff, and when the tsunami warning was cancelled I returned to work as well as some of my staff," he said.

But this afternoon the doors remained shut at the central Talamahu Market this afternoon while a few sellers had returned to the outside area selling their handicrafts and vegetables.

Motuliki Fakatava the Manager of Talamahu Market, which is close to the Nuku'alofa waterfront, said they opened at 8:00am this morning but closed down shortly after when the tsunami warning was issued just before 9am and people rushed home to their families. He said the market doors would remain closed down for the rest of the day.