Tonga: A magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs in South Pacific Ocean at around 10:41 Jan. 8

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred near northeastern Tonga at around 10:41 Jan. 8. The epicenter was approximately 122 km (76 miles) east-southeast of Foa Island. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt throughout Tonga. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.