US: Moderate 5.9 earthquake shakes Tonga

Moderate 5.9 quake shakes Tonga

NEW YORK — A moderate magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the South Pacific near Tonga on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. No tsunami watch was issued.

The quake struck at 8:41 Sunday morning (1941 GMT Saturday) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the USGS said.

It was centered 65 kilometers (40 miles) east-northeast Hihifo, Tonga, and 645 kilometers (400 miles) north-northeast of the capital, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, the agency reported.

Sunday’s quake was 260 kilometers (160 miles) southwest of Apia, Samoa, which was hit by a quake and a devastating tsunami on Sept. 29, with at least 183 people killed.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued no tsunami warning after Sunday’s quake.