M4.5 Earthquake 43 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga — April 29, 2022
2022-04-29 18:49:33 UTC (2022-04-29) · approx. 6:49 AM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On April 29, 2022 at 18:49 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 43 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 56.0 km and coordinates -18.3358°, -173.7450°. This earthquake was detected by 13 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 4 days ago 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
-173.7450°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 43 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga on April 29, 2022 at 18:49 UTC had a depth of 56.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -18.3358°, -173.7450°, which is 43 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000h7ip). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, April 29, 2022). M4.5 Earthquake 43 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga — April 29, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000h7ip/