A 5.5 magnitude earthquake occurred to the southeast of Nuku’alofa, the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga, according to data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The event’s epicenter lay about 133 kilometres from the city core, placing it well within the offshore region of Tonga. The population of the nearest settlement affected by the tremor numbers more than 24,000 residents. Seismographic readings indicate that the quake struck at a shallow depth of roughly two kilometres beneath the surface. Despite the intensity of shaking reported in the region, there were no warnings of a tsunami threat, and no casualties or injuries were documented as a direct consequence of the tremor at that time.
In another thread of recent developments, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey announced that authorities would extend support to those affected by various disasters. A housing aid program was established to assist households impacted by the events in the southeast of the country, with an initial annual sum of about five thousand Turkish lira (roughly $265) designated per eligible household.
Earlier, Erdogan had stated that, during the initial phase of relief efforts, each affected family would receive ten thousand lira (around $530). This measure aimed to provide urgent financial assistance to households facing disruption from the disaster as authorities worked to coordinate longer-term recovery.
As the situation unfolded, Erdogan reported that the death toll from the earthquakes in Turkey had risen to 19,388, with 77,711 people reported injured. The figures reflected the severe impact of the seismic events on communities throughout the affected regions and underscored an ongoing, large-scale response to the crisis.