M4.0 Earthquake 260 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — February 24, 2024
2024-02-24 23:47:26 UTC (2024-02-24) · approx. 11:47 AM UTC-12 local
On February 24, 2024 at 23:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 260 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 459.0 km and coordinates -20.4902°, -177.6968°.
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
-177.6968°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 260 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on February 24, 2024 at 23:47 UTC had a depth of 459.0 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.
Actions
Location
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mfus). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, February 24, 2024). M4.0 Earthquake 260 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — February 24, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mfus/