No tsunami threat after Tonga earthquake, says PHIVOLCS

There is no threat that a tsunami will hit the country after a strong earthquake hit Tonga early Saturday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.

"No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data. This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake," the agency said.

There is no required action at this time, PHIVOLCS added.

The agency reported that a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Tonga at 3:11 a.m.

The US Geological Survey (USGS), on the other hand, reported that a magnitude 5.9 quake struck Tonga, revising an earlier measurement of a 6.5 magnitude earthquake.

The earthquake's epicenter was located about 270 km (170 miles) south of Tonga, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the USGS.

The US Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami threat for the US West Coast, British Columbia, or Alaska following the quake.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat to Australia. -- BAP, GMA Integrated News with Reuters