Magnitude 6.5 quake recorded near TongA

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has been recorded near Tonga.

The earthquake rocked Nuku'alofa just after 7pm local time (1600 AEST) when it was dark, the Matangi Tonga website reported.

Houses shook violently and people could be heard shouting warnings to each other with babies crying. It was not known if there was any damage.

The earthquake was centred 71km northeast of Nuku'alofa and had a depth of 10km, according to USGS.

The shaking continued for less than a minute, Matangi Tonga reported.