Shallow M6.0 earthquake hits Tonga region
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit the Tonga region at 10:49 UTC on May 25, 2025. The quake occurred at a depth of 11.6 km (7.2 miles).
Epicenter of M6.0 earthquake in Tonga region on May 25, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located about 180 km (111 miles) SSW of ‘Ohonua (population 1 241) and 191 km (119 miles) SSW of Nuku‘alofa (population 22 400), Tonga.
43 o00 people are estimated to have felt light shaking and 41 000 weak.
There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unknown/miscellaneous types and wood construction.
Tonga is located along the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, making it a region of high seismic activity due to active subduction and frequent undersea earthquakes.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.0 earthquake Tonga region – USGS – May 25, 2025
2 M6.0 earthquake Tonga region – EMSC – May 25, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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