M4.3 Earthquake 213 km WSW of Houma, Tonga — October 18, 2026
2026-10-18 15:39:40 UTC (3 hours ago) · approx. 3:39 AM UTC-12 local
On October 18, 2026 at 15:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 213 km WSW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 271.2 km and coordinates -21.6837°, -177.2893°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-177.2893°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 213 km WSW of Houma, Tonga on October 18, 2026 at 15:39 UTC had a depth of 271.2 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u36h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 18, 2026). M4.3 Earthquake 213 km WSW of Houma, Tonga — October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u36h/