'Ohonua, Tonga — A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck in the South Pacific on Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

## What happened:

The earthquake hit at 2:32 p.m. Central time (19:32 UTC) about 71 kilometers east-southeast of 'Ohonua, the capital of the 'Eua island group in Tonga. The quake was centered at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The USGS has reviewed the event.

## Impacts:

The USGS is reporting no tsunami threat from this earthquake. As of this report, there are no felt reports filed with the USGS and no damage reports have been confirmed. Shaking in the region would depend on distance from the epicenter — those on 'Eua and nearby islands may have felt a brief rumble.

## What to do:

- If you felt the ground move: Drop, cover, and hold on. Get under a sturdy table and stay there until the shaking stops.

- After shaking stops, check for hazards like fallen objects or damaged utilities.

- Stay alert for aftershocks — smaller quakes can follow a magnitude 5 event for hours or days.

*Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 18, 2026. Reported by TNW News.*