4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 265 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga — October 12, 2020

2020-10-12 18:14:35 UTC (2020-10-12) · approx. 6:14 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time18:14 UTC≈ 6:14 AM UTC-12
Depth534.4 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-20.946°, -177.763°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 12, 2020 at 18:14 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 265 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga, at a depth of 534.4 km and coordinates -20.9463°, -177.7630°.

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 -20.95°, -177.76°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
534.4 km
deep-focus
Location
-20.9463°N
-177.7630°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000c8sz
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Azimuthal Gap
200.0°
Min Station Distance
5.074°
RMS Residual
0.90 sec
Last Updated
2020-12-19 17:22:55 UTC

Common Questions

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

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 265 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga on October 12, 2020 at 18:14 UTC had a depth of 534.4 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: us6000c8sz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 12, 2020). M4.1 Earthquake 265 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga — October 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c8sz/