7.5 Quake Rattles Tonga as Ring of Fire Stirs and Tsunami Sirens Wail (Video)

The largest recorded earthquake of the year – so far – hit off the coast of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean, sparking initial concerns for tsunami potential before dissipating.

Documenting the tremor, the United States Geological Survey noted: “The March 23, 2026, M 7.5 Tonga earthquake occurred as the result of normal faulting at intermediate depth. Focal mechanism solutions indicate rupture occurred on either a shallowly dipping fault striking southwest, or a steeply dipping fault striking northeast.