M4.2 Earthquake 85 km NNW of Neiafu, Tonga — November 8, 2021
2021-11-08 17:55:37 UTC (2021-11-08) · approx. 5:55 AM UTC-12 local
On November 8, 2021 at 17:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 85 km NNW of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 67.2 km and coordinates -17.9517°, -174.3218°.
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
-174.3218°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 85 km NNW of Neiafu, Tonga on November 8, 2021 at 17:55 UTC had a depth of 67.2 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 4.2 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: us7000ftkb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, November 8, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake 85 km NNW of Neiafu, Tonga — November 8, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ftkb/