Seismic Activity in Tonga
Over the past 30 days, there have been 20 recorded earthquakes in this region. The largest recent earthquake was a magnitude 5.3 event near 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga.
Earthquakes in Tonga
0 earthquakes in the last 24 hours• Latest significant: M5.3
Earthquake Map
Recent Earthquakes (Last 30 Days)
Dataset at a glance — Tonga
Over the past 30 days, Tonga has recorded 20 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater in our tracker. 1 reached magnitude 5.0 or higher. 19 landed between M4.0 and M4.9. By depth: 4 shallow (<70 km), 7 intermediate (70–300 km), 9 deep-focus (>300 km). 6 of the epicenters were offshore. 1 event produced at least one felt report, totalling 3 citizen submissions to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Focal depths ranged from 10.0 km to 616.1 km. All 20 solutions have been reviewed by a USGS seismologist.
Each row in the table below includes a narrative summary of the event, ordered by time. Use the column headers to sort or filter by magnitude.
Showing 20 of 20
| Time ↓ | Mag ↕ | Location ↕ | Depth ↕ | Felt ↕ | MMI | Alert | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 days ago 2026-09-09 18:19:02 UTC | 4.6mb | 295 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.652°, -178.093° | 499.4 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
The USGS recorded this magnitude 4.6 earthquake 295 km WNW of Houma, Tonga at 18:19 UTC on September 9, 2026. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
3 days ago 2026-09-08 11:51:09 UTC | 5.3mb | 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga -18.474°, -174.155° | 10.0 km | 3 | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On September 8, 2026 at 11:51 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga. It is the largest earthquake currently listed for Tonga over the past 30 days. See the M5.3 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-03 2026-09-03 18:42:06 UTC | 4.1mb | Fiji region -19.037°, -177.888° | 608.8 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
This magnitude 4.1 event was detected in the Fiji region on September 3, 2026, with origin time 18:42 UTC. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-03 2026-09-03 18:31:05 UTC | 4.9mb | Fiji region -18.659°, -177.537° | 616.1 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake was recorded in the Fiji region on September 3, 2026 at 18:31 UTC. This is the deepest earthquake in the current dataset — a deep-focus event. See the M4.9 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-03 2026-09-03 07:46:19 UTC | 4.5mb | 122 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.789°, -176.407° | 218.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On September 3, 2026 at 07:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck 122 km WNW of Houma, Tonga. See the M4.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-01 2026-09-01 10:34:48 UTC | 4.9mb | 117 km WNW of Pangai, Tonga -19.444°, -175.404° | 198.1 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 4.9 earthquake 117 km WNW of Pangai, Tonga with origin time 10:34 UTC on September 1, 2026. See the M4.9 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-09-01 2026-09-01 01:29:10 UTC | 4.8mb | 292 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.407°, -177.994° | 533.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
At 01:29 UTC on September 1, 2026, a magnitude 4.8 tremor occurred 292 km WNW of Houma, Tonga. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.8 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-30 2026-08-30 22:51:04 UTC | 4.2mb | 255 km W of Houma, Tonga -21.339°, -177.754° | 388.7 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
At 22:51 UTC on August 30, 2026, a magnitude 4.2 tremor occurred 255 km W of Houma, Tonga. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-28 2026-08-28 10:38:33 UTC | 4.4mb | Fiji region -21.123°, -178.645° | 535.4 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On August 28, 2026, Tonga registered a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the Fiji region at 10:38 UTC. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.4 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-27 2026-08-27 23:02:58 UTC | 4.9mb | 264 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.380°, -177.696° | 520.3 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
On August 27, 2026, Tonga registered a magnitude 4.9 earthquake 264 km WNW of Houma, Tonga at 23:02 UTC. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.9 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-26 2026-08-26 16:22:06 UTC | 4.1mb | 142 km W of Pangai, Tonga -19.804°, -175.716° | 219.8 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Reports of a magnitude 4.1 earthquake 142 km W of Pangai, Tonga came in on August 26, 2026 at 16:22 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M4.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-24 2026-08-24 05:40:47 UTC | 4.5mb | 104 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.987°, -176.289° | 209.2 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake was recorded 104 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on August 24, 2026 at 05:40 UTC. See the M4.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-21 2026-08-21 16:45:36 UTC | 4.6mb | 131 km W of Pangai, Tonga -19.622°, -175.596° | 272.9 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
This magnitude 4.6 event was detected 131 km W of Pangai, Tonga on August 21, 2026, with origin time 16:45 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M4.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-21 2026-08-21 15:21:18 UTC | 4.1mb | 178 km W of Neiafu, Tonga -18.460°, -175.658° | 271.1 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 4.1 seismic event took place 178 km W of Neiafu, Tonga on August 21, 2026 at 15:21 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M4.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-21 2026-08-21 13:26:17 UTC | 4.1mb | 160 km W of Neiafu, Tonga -18.416°, -175.485° | 272.2 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
August 21, 2026 brought a magnitude 4.1 earthquake 160 km W of Neiafu, Tonga, logged at 13:26 UTC. The event was offshore. See the M4.1 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-18 2026-08-18 23:53:51 UTC | 4.2mb | 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.122°, -177.757° | 505.6 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
The USGS recorded this magnitude 4.2 earthquake 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga at 23:53 UTC on August 18, 2026. It arrived roughly 7 hours after a larger magnitude 4.5 mainshock in the same 20 km area, placing it within the typical aftershock window. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.2 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-18 2026-08-18 18:03:56 UTC | 4.6mb | south of Tonga -24.745°, -175.082° | 10.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Reports of a magnitude 4.6 earthquake south of Tonga came in on August 18, 2026 at 18:03 UTC. See the M4.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-18 2026-08-18 16:48:10 UTC | 4.5mb | 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga -20.022°, -177.705° | 408.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
Seismographs logged a magnitude 4.5 earthquake 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga with origin time 16:48 UTC on August 18, 2026. This deep-focus earthquake originated far below the brittle crust, deep inside the mantle. See the M4.5 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-17 2026-08-17 00:25:55 UTC | 4.6mb | 222 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga -23.248°, -174.282° | 10.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
A magnitude 4.6 seismic event took place 222 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga on August 17, 2026 at 00:25 UTC. See the M4.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
2026-08-16 2026-08-16 07:18:24 UTC | 4.6mb | 88 km ENE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga -19.453°, -173.544° | 10.0 km | - | - | - | ✓ Reviewed | USGS → |
August 16, 2026 brought a magnitude 4.6 earthquake 88 km ENE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga, logged at 07:18 UTC. See the M4.6 event page for the full report, ShakeMap, and citizen-reported intensity data. | ||||||||
Legend:
Mag: Magnitude (magType = ml, mb, mw, etc.)
Felt: Number of DYFI felt reports
MMI: Modified Mercalli Intensity (I-X+)
Alert: PAGER alert level
Depth: Shallow (<70km), Intermediate, Deep (>300km)
Status: Auto = preliminary, Reviewed = verified by seismologist
Click any row to see additional technical details.
Earthquake Statistics
Last 24 Hours0
Last 30 Days20
2026 (M2.5+)361
Largest (30 Days)
M5.3
26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga
3 days ago
Largest in 2026
M7.5
158 km W of Neiafu, Tonga
2026-03-24
Data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Updated every 5 minutes.
About Tonga
Tonga sits above one of the fastest subduction zones on Earth where the Pacific Plate dives beneath the Australian Plate at nearly 24 cm per year.
Tonga Earthquakes 2026
In 2026, Tonga has recorded 361 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater so far. The largest earthquake in Tonga in 2026 was a magnitude 7.5 event near Neiafu, Tonga.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many earthquakes occur in Tonga?
In the past 30 days, 20 earthquakes have been recorded in the Tonga region.
What was the biggest recent earthquake in Tonga?
The largest recent earthquake in the Tonga area was a magnitude 5.3 event that occurred 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga.
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