M4.4 Earthquake 88 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga — October 16, 2021
2021-10-16 23:13:27 UTC (2021-10-16) · approx. 11:13 AM UTC-12 local
On October 16, 2021 at 23:13 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 88 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 130.9 km and coordinates -18.0868°, -174.5791°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-174.5791°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 88 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga on October 16, 2021 at 23:13 UTC had a depth of 130.9 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000fw7c). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, October 16, 2021). M4.4 Earthquake 88 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga — October 16, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000fw7c/