A strong preliminary magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, prompting coastal evacuations but no wider tsunami warnings. The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck early Tuesday evening local time at a depth of about 237 km. Earthquakes at shallower depths are felt more strongly at the surface.

The jolt was centred at sea, 153 km west of Neiafu, the second largest town in the island nation. There were no immediate reports of damage.