M4.0 Earthquake 278 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga — December 26, 2020
2020-12-26 21:57:27 UTC (2020-12-26) · approx. 9:57 AM UTC-12 local
On December 26, 2020 at 21:57 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 278 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga, at a depth of 470.6 km and coordinates -20.7577°, -177.8587°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-177.8587°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Haveluloto, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 278 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga on December 26, 2020 at 21:57 UTC had a depth of 470.6 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d65i). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 26, 2020). M4.0 Earthquake 278 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga — December 26, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d65i/