5.4-magnitude quake strikes off Tonga

WELLINGTON: A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Tonga on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The undersea quake hit at a depth of just 8.2 kilometres (5.1 miles), 85km northeast of Hihifo, at 10:25 am (2025 GMT Thursday) the USGS said.

There were no tsunami warnings in effect, according to the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami warning Center.

Tonga, almost 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) northeast of New Zealand, lies on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where continental plates collide causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

Nine people died in Tonga in an earthquake-triggered tsunami in October 2009 that also killed 143 people in Samoa.