M4.6 Earthquake 122 km E of Neiafu, Tonga — December 11, 2020
2020-12-11 17:32:31 UTC (2020-12-11) · approx. 5:32 AM UTC-12 local
On December 11, 2020 at 17:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 122 km E of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -18.7448°, -172.8224°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Tonga, a region characterized by the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate descends at up to 240 mm per year — the fastest plate convergence on Earth. The nearest mapped fault system is the Tonga Trench. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-172.8224°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 122 km E of Neiafu, Tonga on December 11, 2020 at 17:32 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -18.7448°, -172.8224°, which is 122 km E of Neiafu, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Tonga had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Tonga was the M8.1 Tonga Trench earthquake of June 26, 1917. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000crkd). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 11, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 122 km E of Neiafu, Tonga — December 11, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000crkd/