M4.4 earthquake — 135 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga
An magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred 135 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga on Sep 20, 2026 at 17:17 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 161 km — an intermediate-depth earthquake. Intermediate quakes spread their energy over a wider area and are often felt across a broad region.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.4 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 160.7 km |
| Coordinates | -16.779, -174.737 |
| Time | Sep 20, 17:17 UTC |
| Location | 135 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us7000tisg |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.9 | 92 km | Sep 20, 00:33 UTC | 85 km W of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.0 | 99 km | Sep 20, 05:07 UTC | 103 km W of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.3 | 150 km | Sep 17, 04:06 UTC | 155 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.3 | 256 km | Sep 17, 06:42 UTC | 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.