Magnitude 7.6 Mw Areas affected Tonga | Depth 40 km (25 mi) Max. intensity VII (Very strong) | |
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Date March 19, 2009 (2009-03-19) | ||
The 2009 Tonga earthquake occurred on March 19 at 18:17:41 UTC with a moment magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). The event occurred several hundred kilometers to the southeast of Nuku'alofa (the capital of Tonga), and was felt 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) distant on New Zealand's North Island, but there were no injuries or significant damage. A tsunami warning was issued but was later cancelled.
The earthquake occurred four days after the beginning of a major undersea volcanic eruption near Hunga Tonga. There has been no confirmation yet of a direct link between the volcanic eruption and earthquake, but Ken Hudnut, a geophysicist for the United States Geological Survey, stated that "it seems suggestive at this point". Keleti Mafi, the Tongan government's chief seismologist, has suggested that the earthquake is likely to have a direct impact on the volcanic eruption, stating that the "strength of the earthquake could crack the volcano's (undersea) vent and allow more magma to be ejected".