4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 162 km WNW of Fangale’ounga, TongaMarch 19, 2024

2024-03-19 22:43:29 UTC (2024-03-19) · approx. 10:43 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:43 UTC10:43 AM UTC-12
Depth216.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-19.081°, -175.699°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 19, 2024 at 22:43 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 162 km WNW of Fangale’ounga, Tonga, at a depth of 216.3 km and coordinates -19.0814°, -175.6990°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -19.08°, -175.70°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
216.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
-19.0814°N
-175.6990°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000mkji
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
19
Azimuthal Gap
81.0°
Min Station Distance
2.129°
RMS Residual
0.44 sec
Last Updated
2024-05-27 14:19:22 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Fangale’ounga, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 162 km WNW of Fangale’ounga, Tonga on March 19, 2024 at 22:43 UTC had a depth of 216.3 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mkji). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 19, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 162 km WNW of Fangale’ounga, TongaMarch 19, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mkji/