M4.4 Earthquake 135 km NNW of Houma, Tonga — February 23, 2025
2025-02-23 23:07:09 UTC (2025-02-23) · approx. 11:07 AM UTC-12 local
On February 23, 2025 at 23:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 135 km NNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 268.4 km and coordinates -20.0882°, -175.9075°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-175.9075°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 135 km NNW of Houma, Tonga on February 23, 2025 at 23:07 UTC had a depth of 268.4 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pwtz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 23, 2025). M4.4 Earthquake 135 km NNW of Houma, Tonga — February 23, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pwtz/