4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 113 km W of Houma, TongaMarch 13, 2025

2025-03-13 21:49:02 UTC (2025-03-13) · approx. 9:49 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time21:49 UTC9:49 AM UTC-12
Depth206.4 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-21.297°, -176.382°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 13, 2025 at 21:49 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 113 km W of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 206.4 km and coordinates -21.2968°, -176.3824°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -21.30°, -176.38°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
206.4 km
intermediate depth
Location
-21.2968°N
-176.3824°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pyp6
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
32
Azimuthal Gap
101.0°
Min Station Distance
6.256°
RMS Residual
1.01 sec
Last Updated
2025-05-17 19:19:57 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 113 km W of Houma, Tonga on March 13, 2025 at 21:49 UTC had a depth of 206.4 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pyp6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 13, 2025). M4.4 Earthquake 113 km W of Houma, TongaMarch 13, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pyp6/