4.3

M4.3 Earthquake 148 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga — September 19, 2026

2026-09-19 11:54:50 UTC (2026-09-19) · approx. 11:54 PM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time11:54 UTC≈ 11:54 PM UTC-12
Depth172.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-17.152°, -174.423°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 19, 2026 at 11:54 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 148 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 172.3 km and coordinates -17.1516°, -174.4227°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -17.15°, -174.42°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
172.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
-17.1516°N
-174.4227°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000tiwf
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
79.0°
Min Station Distance
4.107°
RMS Residual
0.49 sec
Last Updated
2026-09-30 13:09:53 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 148 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga on September 19, 2026 at 11:54 UTC had a depth of 172.3 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tiwf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 19, 2026). M4.3 Earthquake 148 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga — September 19, 2026. Retrieved September 30, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tiwf/