M4.3 Earthquake 107 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga — December 29, 2023
2023-12-29 21:09:33 UTC (2023-12-29) · approx. 9:09 AM UTC-12 local
On December 29, 2023 at 21:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 107 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 31.8 km and coordinates -15.1112°, -173.2989°.
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
-173.2989°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 107 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga on December 29, 2023 at 21:09 UTC had a depth of 31.8 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: us6000m2qt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 29, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 107 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga — December 29, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m2qt/