M4.4 Earthquake 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 17, 2023
2023-09-17 14:52:40 UTC (2023-09-17) · approx. 2:52 AM UTC-12 local
On September 17, 2023 at 14:52 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 deep-focus earthquake struck 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 496.4 km and coordinates -19.9797°, -177.6737°.
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
-177.6737°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 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on September 17, 2023 at 14:52 UTC had a depth of 496.4 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: us7000kx56). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 17, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kx56/