Strong earthquakes shake Tonga: Tsunami warning lifted amid aftershocks

Tonga's Ha'apai group has experienced a morning of turmoil as a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and a series of aftershocks, shaking homes and prompting residents to move to higher ground.

Despite the intensity, there are currently no reported injuries or damage.

Tsunami warnings have been lifted following the earthquake that struck early on Monday local time.

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The shallow quake struck at 1.18am, located 79 kilometres southeast of Pangai, and was felt across the Kingdom as well as Niue.

This is the strongest earthquake Tonga has experienced in over a decade, but no injuries or damage have been reported at this time.

Tongan Olympian Pita Taufatofua shared on social media that he was woken by the earthquake.

"Whole house shaking, longest earthquake I've felt. Tsunami sirens just started going off to move to higher ground," he wrote.

Videos on social media show lines of vehicles and pedestrians moving to higher ground, accompanied by sirens and warning messages in English and Lea Faka Tonga.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the initial quake occurred at a depth of 29km, followed by a series of aftershocks this morning, the strongest of which measured 6.1.

In a follow-up post, Taufatofua says the earthquake felt like it lasted a long time.

"Many things falling off tables and shelves, photos falling off walls, whole house shaking, was hard to stand up."

More updates to come.....