M4.6 earthquake — 156 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 156 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga on Sep 22, 2026 at 15:16 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 | M4.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -17.248, -173.204 |
| Time | Sep 22, 15:16 UTC |
| Location | 156 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000ty65 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.5 | 215 km | Oct 10, 08:38 UTC | 61 km N of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.7 | 243 km | Oct 11, 18:06 UTC | 156 km ESE of Neiafu, Tonga |
| M5.2 | 247 km | Oct 15, 13:29 UTC | 107 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.5 | 263 km | Oct 12, 04:38 UTC | 122 km W of Neiafu, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.