Tonga: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs east of Ha'apai at around 13:31 Nov. 5

A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean off eastern Tonga at around 13:31 Nov. 5. The epicenter was about 53 km (33 miles) east of Pangai, Ha'apai. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and weak shaking was probably felt throughout most of the country. 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 possible 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.