A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck the Pacific island kingdom of Tonga, with its epicenter 90 kilometers southeast of Pangai.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck at 3:18 a.m. local time (12:18 GMT).
The epicenter was recorded at a depth of ten kilometers, making it a shallow earthquake that can cause strong ground shaking.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a warning after the quake.
The region lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where the boundaries of tectonic plates often cause strong earthquakes and volcanic activity.
