M4.3 Earthquake 151 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga — August 12, 2023
2023-08-12 21:07:32 UTC (2023-08-12) · approx. 9:07 AM UTC-12 local
On August 12, 2023 at 21:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 151 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 24.1 km and coordinates -17.2635°, -173.3780°.
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
-173.3780°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 151 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga on August 12, 2023 at 21:07 UTC had a depth of 24.1 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: us7000kp93). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 12, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 151 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga — August 12, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kp93/