Earthquake, 19 March 2009
| Date | 19 March 2009 (2009-03-19) |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 7.6 Mw |
| Depth | 34 kilometres (21 mi) |
| Epicenter | 23°03′00″S 174°40′05″W / 23.050°S 174.668°W / -23.050; -174.668 |
| Countries or regions | Tonga |
Four days after the start of the eruption a strong earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale also struck the region. There has been no confirmation yet of a direct link between the volcanic eruption and earthquake, though Ken Hudnut, a geophysicist for the United States Geological Survey, stated that "The association with the volcanic activity seems to be an interesting added dimension to this. It's not clear at this point that there is a direct association, but it seems suggestive at this point.". Keleti Mafi, the Tongan government's chief seismologist, has also suggested that the earthquake is likely to have a direct impact on the volcanic eruption, stating that the "strength of the earthquake could crack the volcano's (undersea) vent and allow more magma to be ejected".
Read more about this topic: 2009 Tonga Undersea Volcanic Eruption
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