M5.0 Earthquake 80 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga — October 11, 2023
2023-10-11 04:37:08 UTC (2023-10-11) · approx. 4:37 PM UTC-12 local
On October 11, 2023 at 04:37 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 80 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga, at a depth of 25.0 km and coordinates -20.4851°, -174.0596°. This earthquake was detected by 51 seismic stations with good 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
-174.0596°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Pangai, Tonga?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 80 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga on October 11, 2023 at 04:37 UTC had a depth of 25.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -20.4851°, -174.0596°, which is 80 km SSE of Pangai, 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: us6000leps). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 11, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 80 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga — October 11, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000leps/