M4.4 Earthquake 175 km NW of Houma, Tonga — January 20, 2025
2025-01-20 23:39:10 UTC (2025-01-20) · approx. 11:39 AM UTC-12 local
On January 20, 2025 at 23:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 175 km NW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 188.4 km and coordinates -19.9158°, -176.3237°.
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
-176.3237°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 175 km NW of Houma, Tonga on January 20, 2025 at 23:39 UTC had a depth of 188.4 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: us7000pa2r). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 20, 2025). M4.4 Earthquake 175 km NW of Houma, Tonga — January 20, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pa2r/