M4.0 Earthquake 267 km NW of Houma, Tonga — March 29, 2023
2023-03-29 22:17:48 UTC (2023-03-29) · approx. 10:17 AM UTC-12 local
On March 29, 2023 at 22:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 267 km NW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 563.3 km and coordinates -19.7210°, -177.3521°.
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
-177.3521°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 267 km NW of Houma, Tonga on March 29, 2023 at 22:17 UTC had a depth of 563.3 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: us6000k1ru). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 29, 2023). M4.0 Earthquake 267 km NW of Houma, Tonga — March 29, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k1ru/