M4.4 Earthquake 78 km W of Houma, Tonga — November 2, 2023
2023-11-02 22:29:41 UTC (2023-11-02) · approx. 10:29 AM UTC-12 local
On November 2, 2023 at 22:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 78 km W of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 174.9 km and coordinates -21.0647°, -176.0473°.
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
-176.0473°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 78 km W of Houma, Tonga on November 2, 2023 at 22:29 UTC had a depth of 174.9 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: us7000l9dz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 2, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 78 km W of Houma, Tonga — November 2, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000l9dz/