M4.2 Earthquake 260 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga — September 24, 2021
2021-09-24 19:05:58 UTC (2021-09-24) · approx. 7:05 AM UTC-12 local
On September 24, 2021 at 19:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck 260 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga, at a depth of 510.3 km and coordinates -20.3159°, -177.5550°.
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
-177.5550°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Haveluloto, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 260 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga on September 24, 2021 at 19:05 UTC had a depth of 510.3 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: us7000fe6e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 24, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake 260 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga — September 24, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fe6e/