2 people dead

House fire claims two lives in Tonga

Fire engines from the Longolongo station rushed to the home, opposite the Nuku’alofa Central Police Station on Salote Rd, shortly after 12am today.

“Two people have been located deceased inside the property,” a family member told Kaniva News.

He said three other people including two elderly persons “ongo vaivai” were taken to hospital.

The big old white house was known to many as the Percival residence.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

 

Photo Kaniva News 

     

Strong earthquake strikes Indonesia; 2 dead

The 6.5-magnitude quake was centered in Cipatujah, in the western part of Java, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 91.9 kilometers (about 57 miles).

Residents felt the quake about 190 miles away (305 kilometers) in the capital of Jakarta, where people briefly evacuated to the ground floor of their high-rises.

Tremors were also felt in the cities of Bandung, more than 63.5 miles away (102.1 kilometers) and Yogyakarta, more than 211 miles away (339.9 kilometers), authorities said.