M4.2 Earthquake near Tonga — May 18, 2023
2023-05-18 22:12:55 UTC (2023-05-18) · approx. 10:12 AM UTC-12 local
On May 18, 2023 at 22:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Tonga, at a depth of 176.5 km and coordinates -15.4583°, -174.6261°.
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
-174.6261°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Tonga?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck near Tonga on May 18, 2023 at 22:12 UTC had a depth of 176.5 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: us7000k3ae). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 18, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake near Tonga — May 18, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k3ae/