M5.2 earthquake — 109 km W of Hihifo, Tonga
A moderate magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred 109 km W of Hihifo, Tonga on Sep 20, 2026 at 13:00 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M5.2 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -15.868, -174.817 |
| Time | Sep 20, 13:00 UTC |
| Location | 109 km W of Hihifo, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us7000tirq |
What this magnitude typically means
Moderate earthquakes are widely felt and can cause light damage close to the epicenter. The shaking you actually experience depends on how far away you are and what kind of ground you are on. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.0 | 6 km | Sep 20, 05:07 UTC | 103 km W of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.9 | 26 km | Sep 20, 00:33 UTC | 85 km W of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.4 | 102 km | Sep 20, 17:17 UTC | 135 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.3 | 155 km | Sep 17, 06:42 UTC | 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna |
| M5.3 | 218 km | Sep 17, 04:06 UTC | 155 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.