M4.9 Earthquake 239 km NW of Houma, Tonga — October 29, 2024
2024-10-29 16:16:32 UTC (2024-10-29) · approx. 4:16 AM UTC-12 local
On October 29, 2024 at 16:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 deep-focus earthquake struck 239 km NW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 330.9 km and coordinates -19.7304°, -177.0211°. This earthquake was detected by 122 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Tonga, a region characterized by the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate descends at up to 240 mm per year — the fastest plate convergence on Earth. The nearest mapped fault system is the Tonga Trench. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-177.0211°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 239 km NW of Houma, Tonga on October 29, 2024 at 16:16 UTC had a depth of 330.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -19.7304°, -177.0211°, which is 239 km NW of Houma, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Tonga had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Tonga was the M8.1 Tonga Trench earthquake of June 26, 1917. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nnv7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 29, 2024). M4.9 Earthquake 239 km NW of Houma, Tonga — October 29, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nnv7/