4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 268 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga — September 23, 2020

2020-09-23 18:55:30 UTC (2020-09-23) · approx. 6:55 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time18:55 UTC≈ 6:55 AM UTC-12
Depth525.8 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-20.568°, -177.713°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 23, 2020 at 18:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 268 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga, at a depth of 525.8 km and coordinates -20.5679°, -177.7133°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -20.57°, -177.71°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
525.8 km
deep-focus
Location
-20.5679°N
-177.7133°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000c2jr
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Azimuthal Gap
146.0°
Min Station Distance
4.888°
RMS Residual
1.24 sec
Last Updated
2020-12-05 21:03:07 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Haveluloto, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 268 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga on September 23, 2020 at 18:55 UTC had a depth of 525.8 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000c2jr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 23, 2020). M4.1 Earthquake 268 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga — September 23, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c2jr/