BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit the Tonga Islands at 12:37 p.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The quake's epicenter was monitored at 18.70 degrees south latitude and 175.20 degrees west longitude, and the earthquake struck at a depth of 250 km, according to the CENC.