M4.0 Earthquake 289 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — August 30, 2023
2023-08-30 23:32:03 UTC (2023-08-30) · approx. 11:32 AM UTC-12 local
On August 30, 2023 at 23:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 289 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 539.8 km and coordinates -19.8298°, -177.6807°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-177.6807°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 289 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on August 30, 2023 at 23:32 UTC had a depth of 539.8 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ktgm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 30, 2023). M4.0 Earthquake 289 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — August 30, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ktgm/