M5.1 Earthquake 121 km E of Hihifo, Tonga — November 24, 2022
2022-11-24 15:01:09 UTC (2022-11-24) · approx. 3:01 AM UTC-12 local
On November 24, 2022 at 15:01 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 121 km E of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 23.3 km and coordinates -16.0958°, -172.6681°. This earthquake was detected by 63 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — 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
-172.6681°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 121 km E of Hihifo, Tonga on November 24, 2022 at 15:01 UTC had a depth of 23.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.0958°, -172.6681°, which is 121 km E of Hihifo, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000is2e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, November 24, 2022). M5.1 Earthquake 121 km E of Hihifo, Tonga — November 24, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000is2e/