Earthquake hits coast off Tonga following devastating tsunami

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Tonga just weeks after a killer tsunami hit the island nation sparking widespread devastation.

The tremor was recorded at a depth of 14.5km around 136 miles west-northwest of the village of Pangai, in Tonga’s Ha’apai islands, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

However, the National Weather Service in Pago Pago said there was no current threat of another tsunami.

Tonga was hit by a tsunami following an underwater volcanic eruption on January 15.

At least three people died and an underwater cable was severed, cutting off communications with the rest of the world. British animal charity worker Angela Glover lost and many islanders were injured.

Ms Glover’s body was recovered after she was swept away by the tsunami in Tonga .

Her brother, Nick Eleini, said the his family was “devastated” by the news.

Paying tribute to his sister, Mr Eleini said: “She was beautiful. She was absolutely a ray of sunshine. She would walk into a room and just lighten a room up.”

The 50-year-old charity worker, originally from Brighton, disappeared after her coastal home was hit. Her husband survived after managing to hold onto the branch of a tree.

There are fears the disaster could spark a humanitarian crisis in Tonga, after homes were damaged and the water supply was contaminated by sea water and volcanic ash.

The UK’s Royal Navy ship HMS Spey arrived into Tonga on Wednesday with disaster relief, including 30,00 litres of bottled water, PPE, medical supplies for over 300 first aid kits and basic sanitation and baby products.

The ship arrived into Nuku’alofa, the capital city of Tonga on the island of Tongatapu, but Tonga’s Covid regulations meant that sailors could not disembark the ship, instead dropping the aid relief by crane.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said it was important the UK was “there for Tonga in their hour of need, as the Island begins to rebuild their homes and communities.”

New Zealand and Australia have also supplied aid to the stricken nation.

The tsunami severed an underwater cable, cutting off communication between Tonga and the rest of the world.

One of the first survival stories to come out following the eruption saw a Tongan man who was washed away by the tsunmai manage to stay afloat for 24 hours before swimming to safety.

Lisala Folau, a retired disabled carpenter, swam and floated from his island of Atata via two other uninhabited islands to eventually reach the main island of Tongatapu, a total distance of around eight miles.

Mr Folau got separated from his family when he was swept out to sea, floating in the water before deciding to cling onto a tree trunk in order to survive.

He said: “I floated and was grounded to the east of the island of Toketoke.

“I called and yelled for help but there was no one there.“

He then swam to the island of Polo’a before going on to Sopu is on the western edge of the capital Nuku’alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu where he reached safety.