M4.2 Earthquake 284 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — December 15, 2023
2023-12-15 21:34:10 UTC (2023-12-15) · approx. 9:34 AM UTC-12 local
On December 15, 2023 at 21:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck 284 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 495.7 km and coordinates -19.9689°, -177.7151°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-177.7151°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 284 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on December 15, 2023 at 21:34 UTC had a depth of 495.7 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000lkea). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 15, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 284 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — December 15, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lkea/