M4.3 Earthquake 134 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga — February 16, 2023
2023-02-16 22:46:39 UTC (2023-02-16) · approx. 10:46 AM UTC-12 local
On February 16, 2023 at 22:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 134 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 224.7 km and coordinates -16.7407°, -174.7584°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-174.7584°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 134 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga on February 16, 2023 at 22:46 UTC had a depth of 224.7 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jr90). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, February 16, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 134 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga — February 16, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jr90/