5.8 magnitude earthquake strikes southeast of Tonga: USGS

Sydney: A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast of the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake was said to be of magnitude 6.1 in initial reports, but USGS later lowered the intensity to 5.8.

The quake hit 277 km (172.12 miles) south-southeast of the capital Nuku’alofa at a depth of 66 km, the USGS said.

Tonga is spread about 800 km (500 mi) in a north-south line – about a third of the distance from New Zealand to Hawaii.

The Tongan islands are made either from a limestone base formed from uplifted coral formations or with a limestone overlaying a volcanic base.