M5.2 Earthquake 71 km S of Hihifo, Tonga — April 12, 2025
2025-04-12 03:16:35 UTC (2025-04-12) · approx. 3:16 PM UTC-12 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On April 12, 2025 at 03:16 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 71 km S of Hihifo, Tonga, at a depth of 73.1 km and coordinates -16.5918°, -173.9187°. This earthquake was detected by 78 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Tonga, a region characterized by the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate descends at up to 240 mm per year — the fastest plate convergence on Earth. The nearest mapped fault system is the Tonga Trench. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
-173.9187°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 71 km S of Hihifo, Tonga on April 12, 2025 at 03:16 UTC had a depth of 73.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.5918°, -173.9187°, which is 71 km S of Hihifo, Tonga. View all earthquakes in Tonga.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Tonga had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Tonga was the M8.1 Tonga Trench earthquake of June 26, 1917. Today's magnitude 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: usd0012wfk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 12, 2025). M5.2 Earthquake 71 km S of Hihifo, Tonga — April 12, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/usd0012wfk/