M5.6 earthquake — 156 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga
A moderate magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred 156 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga on Jul 1, 2026 at 21:13 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 259 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 | M5.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 259.0 km |
| Coordinates | -16.960, -174.821 |
| Time | Jul 1, 21:13 UTC |
| Location | 156 km SW of Hihifo, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000t9hu |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | 106 km | Jul 27, 01:05 UTC | 68 km S of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.5 | 127 km | Jul 28, 19:25 UTC | 92 km S of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.9 | 159 km | Jul 22, 21:58 UTC | 17 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.4 | 233 km | Jul 29, 00:47 UTC | 153 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.