M4.0 Earthquake 253 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 18, 2024
2024-09-18 20:47:16 UTC (2024-09-18) · approx. 8:47 AM UTC-12 local
On September 18, 2024 at 20:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 253 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 480.1 km and coordinates -20.5944°, -177.6612°.
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
-177.6612°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 253 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on September 18, 2024 at 20:47 UTC had a depth of 480.1 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: us6000ntbc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, September 18, 2024). M4.0 Earthquake 253 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 18, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ntbc/