2006 Tonga Earthquake

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake — a great event — struck near 2006 Tonga Earthquake on May 3, 2006, at a shallow depth of about 55 km. An earthquake this size would have been felt strongly across the surrounding region; shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they tend to cause the strongest shaking and the most damage. Shallow magnitude 8.0 events near a coastline can also pose a tsunami risk. 40 people submitted "Did You Feel It?" shaking reports to the USGS. Casualties, damage and the recovery depend on local building standards, population and distance from the epicentre — the news coverage, references and photos below capture what happened on the ground.