6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes near Tonga less than 2 weeks after volcanic eruption

The island of Tonga’s authorities have reported on another natural disaster. A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Pacific island on Thursday.

Less than two weeks after an underwater volcano explosion cut off communications to the island, Tonga suffers again from the earthquake. The quake hit about 135 miles northwest of Pangai, Tonga, the US Geological Survey said.

The archipelago authorities said that there were no injuries or damage to any of the populated islands that make up the Tonga region.

The seismic activity came 12 days after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted and produced a tsunami that caused widespread damage in Tonga and minor effects as far away as the U.S. West Coast.

The neighbouring countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Japan, have since given aid to Tonga — such as clean drinking water. Three deaths have been blamed on the eruption and the tsunami that hit the islands.

So far, repairs to underwater fiber optic cables that were severed during the eruption may not be fixed until next month, officials have said, leaving much of the islands without a way of communicating with the rest of the world, UPI reports.