4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 288 km NW of Houma, TongaJuly 8, 2026

2026-07-08 16:56:59 UTC (2026-07-08) · approx. 4:56 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time16:56 UTC4:56 AM UTC-12
Depth346.9 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-19.329°, -177.250°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 8, 2026 at 16:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 288 km NW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 346.9 km and coordinates -19.3289°, -177.2505°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -19.33°, -177.25°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
346.9 km
deep-focus
Location
-19.3289°N
-177.2505°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000t0q9
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
13
Azimuthal Gap
229.0°
Min Station Distance
4.288°
RMS Residual
0.67 sec
Last Updated
2026-07-22 17:33:22 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 288 km NW of Houma, Tonga on July 8, 2026 at 16:56 UTC had a depth of 346.9 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t0q9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 8, 2026). M4.1 Earthquake 288 km NW of Houma, TongaJuly 8, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t0q9/