M4.0 Earthquake 249 km WNW of Neiafu, Tonga — March 30, 2021
2021-03-30 17:33:56 UTC (2021-03-30) · approx. 5:33 AM UTC-12 local
On March 30, 2021 at 17:33 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 249 km WNW of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 600.7 km and coordinates -17.8932°, -176.2094°.
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
-176.2094°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 249 km WNW of Neiafu, Tonga on March 30, 2021 at 17:33 UTC had a depth of 600.7 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: us6000dzrw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 30, 2021). M4.0 Earthquake 249 km WNW of Neiafu, Tonga — March 30, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dzrw/