Tonga: Magnitude-5.6 offshore earthquake occurs west of Houma Nov. 19

A magnitude-5.6 offshore earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean approximately 51 km (31 miles) west of Houma at around 15:41 Nov. 19. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km (6 miles) and light shaking was probably felt throughout the southern regions of Tonga. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties, and 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.