M5.0 Earthquake 283 km SW of Vaini, Tonga — July 15, 2022
2022-07-15 21:27:28 UTC (2022-07-15) · approx. 9:27 AM UTC-12 local
On July 15, 2022 at 21:27 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 283 km SW of Vaini, Tonga, at a depth of 166.6 km and coordinates -23.0444°, -177.0753°. This earthquake was detected by 128 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
-177.0753°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Vaini, Tonga?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 283 km SW of Vaini, Tonga on July 15, 2022 at 21:27 UTC had a depth of 166.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -23.0444°, -177.0753°, which is 283 km SW of Vaini, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000i2vy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, July 15, 2022). M5.0 Earthquake 283 km SW of Vaini, Tonga — July 15, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000i2vy/