Magnitude 7.1 quake strikes Tonga

[masaji79]

(CNN) -- A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the South Pacific islands of Tonga Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake was centered 95 miles (about 150 km) east-southeast of Nuku'Alofa and 1,240 miles (about 2000 km) northeast of Auckland, New Zealand, the USGS said.

It occurred at 6:10 p.m. local time (1:10 a.m. ET).

The National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami is expected as a result of the temblor.

The Kingdom of Tonga is made up of 171 islands, according to the U.S. State Department. Of those, only 48 are inhabited.

[alan1961]

Yes saw that this morning..the depth of this one was a saviour to the south pacific islands.