M4.1 Earthquake 279 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — August 23, 2024
2024-08-23 23:02:05 UTC (2024-08-23) · approx. 11:02 AM UTC-12 local
On August 23, 2024 at 23:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 279 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 535.6 km and coordinates -20.5473°, -177.9037°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-177.9037°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 279 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on August 23, 2024 at 23:02 UTC had a depth of 535.6 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nh9i). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, August 23, 2024). M4.1 Earthquake 279 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — August 23, 2024. Retrieved November 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nh9i/