M4.1 Earthquake 256 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 17, 2026
2026-09-17 19:22:37 UTC (2026-09-17) · approx. 7:22 AM UTC-12 local
On September 17, 2026 at 19:22 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 256 km WNW of Houma, Tonga, at a depth of 422.7 km and coordinates -20.3719°, -177.6181°.
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.
Earthquake Details
-177.6181°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Houma, Tonga?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 256 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on September 17, 2026 at 19:22 UTC had a depth of 422.7 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tiwb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 17, 2026). M4.1 Earthquake 256 km WNW of Houma, Tonga — September 17, 2026. Retrieved October 1, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tiwb/