Powerful earthquake in Pacific triggers tsunami threat for Tonga

While you may think quakes are a western US problem, some of the largest temblors in US history have happened in the East.

A powerful earthquake was reported in the Pacific Ocean early Monday morning local time, with officials saying there is a tsunami threat for areas near the epicenter.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.1 earthquake was reported about 56 miles southeast of Pangai, Tonga, around 1:18 a.m. local time on Monday (8:18 a.m. ET on Sunday).

A powerful earthquake was reported in the Pacific Ocean on Monday morning local time, triggering tsunami alerts.

(FOX Weather)

The earthquake was reported at a depth of about 6 miles.

According to reports on the USGS website, shaking has been reported in places like Pangai and Nukualofa in Tonga.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, tsunami waves have been observed and people on beaches along the coast have been urged to seek higher ground.

Forecasters said tsunami waves of 1-3 feet are possible for some coasts of Niue and Tonga. In addition, tsunami waves of less than a foot are possible for the coasts of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Wallis and Futuna.

The USTWS said there is no threat of a tsunami for Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast of the U.S. 

No other information was immediately available.

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