M4.3 Earthquake 254 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — December 24, 2022
2022-12-24 19:59:42 UTC (2022-12-24) · approx. 7:59 AM UTC-12 local
On December 24, 2022 at 19:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 deep-focus earthquake struck 254 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 505.2 km and coordinates -20.3739°, -177.5905°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-177.5905°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 254 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on December 24, 2022 at 19:59 UTC had a depth of 505.2 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j2bp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 24, 2022). M4.3 Earthquake 254 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — December 24, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j2bp/