M4.3 Earthquake 214 km WSW of Hihifo, Tonga — August 17, 2023
2023-08-17 23:45:44 UTC (2023-08-17) · approx. 11:45 AM UTC-12 local
On August 17, 2023 at 23:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 deep-focus earthquake struck 214 km WSW of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 368.8 km and coordinates -16.4884°, -175.7216°.
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
-175.7216°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 214 km WSW of Hihifo, Tonga on August 17, 2023 at 23:45 UTC had a depth of 368.8 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.
Actions
Location
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kqq5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 17, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 214 km WSW of Hihifo, Tonga — August 17, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kqq5/