M4.0 Earthquake 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — April 20, 2024
2024-04-20 16:55:30 UTC (2024-04-20) · approx. 4:55 AM UTC-12 local
On April 20, 2024 at 16:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 365.2 km and coordinates -19.9523°, -177.6193°.
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
-177.6193°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 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on April 20, 2024 at 16:55 UTC had a depth of 365.2 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: us6000mu0x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 20, 2024). M4.0 Earthquake 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — April 20, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mu0x/