M5.0 Earthquake in the Tonga region — June 20, 2023
2023-06-20 17:07:57 UTC (2023-06-20) · approx. 5:07 AM UTC-12 local
On June 20, 2023 at 17:07 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Tonga region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -23.7361°, -175.8594°. This earthquake was detected by 70 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
-175.8594°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the Tonga region?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck in the Tonga region on June 20, 2023 at 17:07 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -23.7361°, -175.8594°, which is in the Tonga region. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k9wu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, June 20, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake in the Tonga region — June 20, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k9wu/