M4.2 Earthquake 151 km WSW of Houma, Tonga — July 15, 2025
2025-07-15 20:11:58 UTC (2025-07-15) · approx. 8:11 AM UTC-12 local
On July 15, 2025 at 20:11 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 151 km WSW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 199.0 km and coordinates -21.7679°, -176.6199°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-176.6199°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 151 km WSW of Houma, Tonga on July 15, 2025 at 20:11 UTC had a depth of 199.0 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qvpf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, July 15, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 151 km WSW of Houma, Tonga — July 15, 2025. Retrieved November 28, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qvpf/