M4.4 Earthquake 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 20, 2026
2026-09-20 15:33:50 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 3:33 AM UTC-12 local
On September 20, 2026 at 15:33 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 deep-focus earthquake struck 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 507.1 km and coordinates -20.3079°, -177.7935°.
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
-177.7935°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 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on September 20, 2026 at 15:33 UTC had a depth of 507.1 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: us7000tis4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 20, 2026). M4.4 Earthquake 276 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 20, 2026. Retrieved September 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tis4/