M4.7 Earthquake 70 km S of Hihifo, Tonga — October 12, 2020
2020-10-12 14:49:46 UTC (2020-10-12) · approx. 2:49 AM UTC-12 local
On October 12, 2020 at 14:49 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 70 km S of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 49.2 km and coordinates -16.5825°, -173.6953°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Tonga, a region characterized by the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate descends at up to 240 mm per year — the fastest plate convergence on Earth. The nearest mapped fault system is the Tonga Trench. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-173.6953°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 70 km S of Hihifo, Tonga on October 12, 2020 at 14:49 UTC had a depth of 49.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.5825°, -173.6953°, which is 70 km S of Hihifo, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Tonga had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Tonga was the M8.1 Tonga Trench earthquake of June 26, 1917. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000c8sr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 12, 2020). M4.7 Earthquake 70 km S of Hihifo, Tonga — October 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c8sr/