M4.4 Earthquake 105 km WSW of Houma, Tonga — May 29, 2023
2023-05-29 20:20:15 UTC (2023-05-29) · approx. 8:20 AM UTC-12 local
On May 29, 2023 at 20:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 105 km WSW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 193.0 km and coordinates -21.5039°, -176.2512°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-176.2512°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 105 km WSW of Houma, Tonga on May 29, 2023 at 20:20 UTC had a depth of 193.0 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k6fp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 29, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 105 km WSW of Houma, Tonga — May 29, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k6fp/