M4.6 Earthquake 99 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga — December 23, 2024
2024-12-23 20:29:20 UTC (2024-12-23) · approx. 8:29 AM UTC-12 local
On December 23, 2024 at 20:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 99 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -16.6848°, -173.2596°. This earthquake was detected by 30 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Tonga, a region characterized by the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate descends at up to 240 mm per year — the fastest plate convergence on Earth. The nearest mapped fault system is the Tonga Trench. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-173.2596°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 99 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga on December 23, 2024 at 20:29 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.6848°, -173.2596°, which is 99 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Tonga had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Tonga was the M8.1 Tonga Trench earthquake of June 26, 1917. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000phnm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 23, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 99 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga — December 23, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000phnm/