4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 296 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga — July 19, 2020

2020-07-19 23:07:16 UTC (2020-07-19) · approx. 11:07 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time23:07 UTC≈ 11:07 AM UTC-12
Depth539.5 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-20.477°, -177.970°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 19, 2020 at 23:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck 296 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga, at a depth of 539.5 km and coordinates -20.4765°, -177.9697°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -20.48°, -177.97°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
539.5 km
deep-focus
Location
-20.4765°N
-177.9697°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000b3gv
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Azimuthal Gap
99.0°
Min Station Distance
4.639°
RMS Residual
0.81 sec
Last Updated
2020-09-26 16:58:26 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Haveluloto, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 296 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga on July 19, 2020 at 23:07 UTC had a depth of 539.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000b3gv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 19, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake 296 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga — July 19, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000b3gv/