M4.2 Earthquake 274 km SW of Houma, Tonga — March 14, 2025
2025-03-14 22:38:02 UTC (2025-03-14) · approx. 10:38 AM UTC-12 local
On March 14, 2025 at 22:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 274 km SW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 181.2 km and coordinates -23.1933°, -176.8416°.
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
-176.8416°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 274 km SW of Houma, Tonga on March 14, 2025 at 22:38 UTC had a depth of 181.2 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: us7000plnq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 14, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 274 km SW of Houma, Tonga — March 14, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000plnq/