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Powerful earthquake hits small island off New Zealand, tsunami advisory lifted

A seismograph report at Lick Observatory shows the readout of a magnitude 5.1 earthquake east of San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP) A seismograph report at Lick Observatory shows the readout of a magnitude 5.1 earthquake east of San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP)
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand -

A powerful, shallow underwater earthquake struck Friday near Tonga in the southern Pacific, prompting authorities to issue and then lift a tsunami advisory.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.3 quake was centred 211 kilometres (132 miles) east-southeast of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 24.8 kilometres (15 miles). It predicted strong shaking but said the probability of serious damage or casualties was small.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued and later lifted a tsunami advisory, which is one step below a tsunami warning.

An undersea volcano erupted in Tonga in January, killing three people, blanketing its main island with a thick layer of volcanic ash and shooting millions of tons of water vapour high up into the atmosphere.

 

 

 

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