M5.1 Earthquake 67 km SE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga — December 18, 2021
2021-12-18 01:12:29 UTC (2021-12-18) · approx. 1:12 PM UTC-12 local
On December 18, 2021 at 01:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 67 km SE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -21.8009°, -174.5284°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
-174.5284°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near ‘Ohonua, Tonga?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 67 km SE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga on December 18, 2021 at 01:12 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -21.8009°, -174.5284°, which is 67 km SE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gdah). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 18, 2021). M5.1 Earthquake 67 km SE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga — December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gdah/