4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 285 km WNW of Houma, TongaFebruary 18, 2025

2025-02-18 18:18:17 UTC (2025-02-18) · approx. 6:18 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time18:18 UTC6:18 AM UTC-12
Depth536.7 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-20.409°, -177.926°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On February 18, 2025 at 18:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 285 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 536.7 km and coordinates -20.4086°, -177.9263°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -20.41°, -177.93°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
536.7 km
deep-focus
Location
-20.4086°N
-177.9263°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pvn5
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
26
Azimuthal Gap
209.0°
Min Station Distance
4.634°
RMS Residual
0.93 sec
Last Updated
2025-05-02 16:26:14 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 285 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on February 18, 2025 at 18:18 UTC had a depth of 536.7 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pvn5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 18, 2025). M4.1 Earthquake 285 km WNW of Houma, TongaFebruary 18, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pvn5/