6.1 quake strikes Tonga

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A magnitude-6.1 earthquake has struck off the coast of Tonga, 106 km southeast of Hihifo.

The quake was 10.9 km deep and occurred at 1.19pm (2.19pm NZT).

Another smaller shock, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, was recorded two minutes earlier.

Meteorological officer Langi Liu told the Matangi Tonga Online he did not feel the ground shaking.

But he said the sea level at Hihifo was continuing to fluctuate - much like the first tsunami waves he observed earlier following the Japan earthquake.

- NZHERALD STAFF