7.0-magnitude quake triggers brief tsunami alert in Tonga

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the Pacific island nation of Tonga early Monday morning, prompting the government to issue a brief tsunami alert and advise residents to evacuate.

The quake jolted 73 km southeast of Pangai, which is in the Ha'apai group of islands in Tonga, at 01:18 local time on Monday, with a depth of 29 km, according to the latest data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The Tonga National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) and the Tonga Meteorological Service then issued a tsunami warning for all coastal areas of the archipelago.

Videos from locals showed that many residents were driving overnight towards higher ground and inland areas for safety.

Qianqian, a resident in Nuku'alofa, shared her experience evacuating late at night in a video taken from her vehicle using a mobile phone.

"I live by the sea. The tremors were extremely strong. The cabinets kept shaking. The air raid sirens kept blaring for a long time. It is said to be a tsunami warning. We are now evacuating to higher ground at the government's request," she said.

Tonga's National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) said no damage was reported for all areas after the quake.

Tonga is made up of 173 islands with a population of just over 100,000 people, most of whom live on the main island of Tongatapu, which is about 100 km away from the epicenter.

7.0-magnitude quake triggers brief tsunami alert in Tonga

7.0-magnitude quake triggers brief tsunami alert in Tonga

7.0-magnitude quake triggers brief tsunami alert in Tonga

7.0-magnitude quake triggers brief tsunami alert in Tonga

China's commissioning of "five essentials for aircraft carriers" marks a a significant achievement of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s accelerated transformation and development, said Jiang Bin, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference in Beijing on Saturday.

The "five essentials" refer to stealth carrier-based fighters, multirole catapult-assisted carrier-based fighters, fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft, fixed-wing electronic warfare aircraft, and anti-submarine helicopters.

"The package, or what media have dubbed the 'five essentials for aircraft carriers,' is a vital link in forming the systematic combat capability of aircraft carrier formations and a significant achievement in the PLA Navy’s accelerated transformation and development. Building a strong PLA Navy embodies the Chinese nation's long-cherished aspiration of striving to be a strong naval power and serves as an important guarantee for realizing national rejuvenation. In the new era, under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and President Xi, the modernization of the PLA Navy has become increasingly solid and powerful. From the air to the sea, from coastal waters to the open ocean, the types and functions of various weapons platforms have been continuously improved, achieving leapfrog development and innovative breakthroughs, providing stronger guarantees for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests," he said.

Spokesman confirms commissioning of 'five essentials' for carriers