M4.9 earthquake — 17 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga
An magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred 17 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga on Jul 22, 2026 at 21:58 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 71 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 | M4.9 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 71.2 km |
| Coordinates | -15.832, -173.903 |
| Time | Jul 22, 21:58 UTC |
| Location | 17 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us7000t2jk |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | 81 km | Jul 27, 01:05 UTC | 68 km S of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.5 | 109 km | Jul 28, 19:25 UTC | 92 km S of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.4 | 250 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.