The 2006 Tonga earthquake occurred on 4 May at 04:26:35 local time with a moment magnitude of 8.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (very strong). One injury occurred and a non-destructive tsunami was observed.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a warning 17 minutes after the earthquake for coastal areas around the Pacific. An hour later, the center downgraded the warning to only the region within 600 miles of the epicenter, and an hour after that, it canceled the alert.[4] The earthquake was followed by a pair of large aftershocks the next day.[5]
Damageedit
The event caused very limited damage. The previous large earthquake in Tonga, in 1977, was of a lower magnitude but resulted in more severe damage. A likely cause is that the 2006 quake generated other frequencies that only resulted in resonance in small items. In shops, cans and bottles fell from shelves.[6]
The century-old Catholic church in Lapaha had new cracks in the tower and several stones fell down, leaving the steeple in a somewhat unstable position.
The tower of a 60-year-old church of the Free church of Tonga in Veitongo collapsed, the steeple came down and several walls cracked beyond repair.[7]
A Korean business man jumped in panic from his second floor hotel room and was hurt in the fall. He was brought to the hospital where he had to wait a long time for any help as power was off and most staff off duty (as that day was a public holiday).[6]
The American wharf in Nukuʻalofa sustained cracks in addition to those caused by the 1977 earthquake.
A ship, sunk in 1949 near Toula, Vavaʻu apparently burst open and its load of copra came floating to the ocean surface.
A landslide occurred at Hunga island in Vavaʻu, when the ground at a steep cliff along the shore began sliding into the sea.
In Haʻapai, the islands closest to the epicentre, the wharf was damaged and a number of water-pipes and telephone lines were broken.[8] Niuʻui hospital was damaged.[9]
Tsunamiedit
Since the earthquake occurred underwater, tsunami warnings were issued, but then lifted.[10] A small tsunami was observed.[11] Later analysis showed the earthquake to be a slab-tearing event and so less conducive to tsunami generation.[12]
^Chang, Kenneth (4 May 2006). "Quake Causes Tsunami Alert, But No Damage". The New York Times. ProQuest 93201749.
^"Aftershocks rattle South Pacific nation". NBC News. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^ ab. Pacific Islands Report. 5 May 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^. Pacific Islands Report. 8 May 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^. Pacific Islands Report. 8 May 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^. Pacific Islands Report. 22 May 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^"Tonga struck by strong earthquake". BBCNews. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^Tang, L.; Titov, V. V.; Wei, Y.; Mofjeld, H. O.; Spillane, M.; Arcas, D.; Bernard, E. N.; Chamberlin, C.; Gica, E.; Newman, J. (2008), "Tsunami forecast for the May 2006 Tonga tsunami", Journal of Geophysical Research, 113 (C12): C12015, Bibcode:2008JGRC..11312015T, doi:10.1029/2008JC004922
^Tony Fitzpatrick (5 March 2007). "Tonga quake not conducive to tsunami". Washington University. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
External linksedit
– United States Geological Survey
The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
January 01, 1970
2006, tonga, earthquake, occurred, local, time, with, moment, magnitude, maximum, mercalli, intensity, very, strong, injury, occurred, destructive, tsunami, observed, show, oceaniashow, tongautc, time2006, 40isc, event10698255usgs, ansscomcatlocal, datemay, 20. The 2006 Tonga earthquake occurred on 4 May at 04 26 35 local time with a moment magnitude of 8 0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII very strong One injury occurred and a non destructive tsunami was observed 2006 Tonga earthquakeShow map of OceaniaShow map of TongaUTC time2006 05 03 15 26 40ISC event10698255USGS ANSSComCatLocal dateMay 4 2006 2006 05 04 Local time04 26 35 1 Magnitude8 0 Mw 1 Depth40 9 km 25 mi 1 Epicenter19 58 S 174 16 W 19 97 S 174 27 W 19 97 174 27 1 TypeReverse 2 Max intensityMMI VII Very strong 3 Tsunami0 54 m 1 ft 9 in 3 Casualties1 injured 2 Contents 1 Earthquake 2 Damage 3 Tsunami 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarthquake editThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a warning 17 minutes after the earthquake for coastal areas around the Pacific An hour later the center downgraded the warning to only the region within 600 miles of the epicenter and an hour after that it canceled the alert 4 The earthquake was followed by a pair of large aftershocks the next day 5 Damage editThe event caused very limited damage The previous large earthquake in Tonga in 1977 was of a lower magnitude but resulted in more severe damage A likely cause is that the 2006 quake generated other frequencies that only resulted in resonance in small items In shops cans and bottles fell from shelves 6 The century old Catholic church in Lapaha had new cracks in the tower and several stones fell down leaving the steeple in a somewhat unstable position The tower of a 60 year old church of the Free church of Tonga in Veitongo collapsed the steeple came down and several walls cracked beyond repair 7 A Korean business man jumped in panic from his second floor hotel room and was hurt in the fall He was brought to the hospital where he had to wait a long time for any help as power was off and most staff off duty as that day was a public holiday 6 The American wharf in Nukuʻalofa sustained cracks in addition to those caused by the 1977 earthquake A ship sunk in 1949 near Toula Vavaʻu apparently burst open and its load of copra came floating to the ocean surface A landslide occurred at Hunga island in Vavaʻu when the ground at a steep cliff along the shore began sliding into the sea In Haʻapai the islands closest to the epicentre the wharf was damaged and a number of water pipes and telephone lines were broken 8 Niuʻui hospital was damaged 9 Tsunami editSince the earthquake occurred underwater tsunami warnings were issued but then lifted 10 A small tsunami was observed 11 Later analysis showed the earthquake to be a slab tearing event and so less conducive to tsunami generation 12 See also editList of earthquakes in 2006 List of earthquakes in TongaReferences edit a b c d ISC 2015 ISC GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue 1900 2009 Version 2 0 International Seismological Centre a b USGS September 4 2009 PAGER CAT Earthquake Catalog Version 2008 06 1 United States Geological Survey a b USGS M8 0 Tonga United States Geological Survey Chang Kenneth 4 May 2006 Quake Causes Tsunami Alert But No Damage The New York Times ProQuest 93201749 Aftershocks rattle South Pacific nation NBC News 4 May 2006 Retrieved 30 September 2021 a b EARTHQUAKE LEAVES TONGA SHAKEN Pacific Islands Report 5 May 2006 Archived from the original on 30 September 2021 Retrieved 30 September 2021 TONGA CHURCH DAMAGED BY GREAT QUAKE Pacific Islands Report 8 May 2006 Archived from the original on 30 September 2021 Retrieved 30 September 2021 TONGA ASSESSES DAMAGE AFTER QUAKE Pacific Islands Report 8 May 2006 Archived from the original on 30 September 2021 Retrieved 30 September 2021 TONGA HOSPITAL CLOSED FOR REPAIRS AFTER QUAKE Pacific Islands Report 22 May 2006 Archived from the original on 30 September 2021 Retrieved 30 September 2021 Tonga struck by strong earthquake BBCNews 4 May 2006 Retrieved 30 September 2021 Tang L Titov V V Wei Y Mofjeld H O Spillane M Arcas D Bernard E N Chamberlin C Gica E Newman J 2008 Tsunami forecast for the May 2006 Tonga tsunami Journal of Geophysical Research 113 C12 C12015 Bibcode 2008JGRC 11312015T doi 10 1029 2008JC004922 Tony Fitzpatrick 5 March 2007 Tonga quake not conducive to tsunami Washington University Retrieved 30 September 2021 External links editPoster of the Tonga Earthquake of 3 May 2006 Magnitude 7 9 United States Geological Survey The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and or authoritative data for this event Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2006 Tonga earthquake amp oldid 1178509593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
