Earthquake kills at least 1,600 people in Burma and Thailand
The death toll from the devastating earthquake that rocked Burma and Thailand on Friday has risen sharply to more than 1,650 victims.
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A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Tonga early Monday morning, prompting a tsunami warning that has since been lifted.
The U.S. Geological Survey said that the earthquake hit about 62 miles northeast of the main island of Tongatapu at around 1:18 a.m. local time.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning that was rescinded about an hour after the earthquake. Locals were not advised to return to their homes by the Tonga Meteorological Services − according to the Tongan news outlet Talanoa o Tonga.
The area has seen six aftershocks, all with a magnitude of greater than 4.5, according to the USGS.
There were no initial reports of damage caused by the earthquake.
Tonga temblor follows Myanmar disaster
The earthquake that rattled Tonga comes days after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, killing nearly 1,700 and destroying structures across the country.
Images from the Southeast Asian country on Saturday show the aftermath of the earthquake and tremors, including a 6.4-magnitude aftershock.
Predictive modeling by the USGS suggests the death toll could reach as high as 10,000 people.
“This is not just a disaster; it is a complex humanitarian crisis layered over existing vulnerabilities,” Alexander Matheou, Red Cross regional director for Asia Pacific, said in a press release Sunday.
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