Results for Natural events

A magnitude 5.28 earthquake centred close to Tongatapu was felt in Nuku'alofa at 4:09 pm this afternoon, with a sharp upward jolt followed by a brief tremor.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Tonga at 2:19 pm this afternoon, centred 106 km (65miles) South East of Hihifo, Niuatoputapu.

Strong currents and a swelling of the sea level was observed along the Nuku'alofa foreshore at 8:15 am this morning, over an hour after NOAA recorded a sea level rise of 0.37m or 1.2 feet at Nuku'alofa at 17:51GMT (6:51am local time).

Tongans are on alert this morning as the estimated time of arrival at 5:00 am of a tsunami wave generated by the Japan earthquake on March 11 has passed. The low tide this morning is at 6:16am.

A short sharp earthquake magnitude 5.8 centred 83 km (51 miles) SSW from Nuku'alofa, was felt in the capital this evening at about 7:03 pm, where it shook buildings for a few seconds.

As Cyclone Wilma continues to move South-southwest at about 8 knots, the National Weather Forecasting Centre Fua'amotu at 4.35am today, 25 January warned that on this track the cyclone center is expected to lie near 30km south of Vava'u or about 80km north-northeast of Lifuka by around 1pm today.

Tonga's first tropical cyclone alert for the year is now in force for Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai groups. A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Tonga. Tropical Cyclone Wilma (Category 1) center was located about 600km northeast of Niuatoputapu or about 850km north northeast of Vava'u at 10:00am on Sunday 24 January. Special Weather Weather Bulletin Number Five for Tonga

By Alexander Krivenyshev, World Time Zone. If one follows recent radiocarbon analysis and theory that human habitation of Easter Island actually began around 700-1100 years ago and the giant Moai idols were carved from rock between the years 1100 and 1500. If one considers these facts and overlays the calculated, historical data of total solar eclipses occurring many centuries ago (Xavier M. Jubier, Espenak and Anderson, NASA), it turns out that the July 11, 2010 eclipse may be the first total solar eclipse that the giant Moai statues and inhabitants of the island have ever seen.

A tsunami warning remains in force for Tonga, though its expected arrival time 8.40am has passed, and there is a sense of optimism that the tsunami may have weakened its power by the time it reaches Tonga. Meanwhile, hundreds of Tongan families headed for higher ground at dawn this morning, with many choosing the grounds of the king's villa and the surrounding areas at Mata-ki-'Eua.