M4.5 earthquake — 223 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 223 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga on Sep 30, 2026 at 04:56 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 | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -17.339, -172.275 |
| Time | Sep 30, 04:56 UTC |
| Location | 223 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000u0sa |
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 | 135 km | Oct 28, 12:35 UTC | 88 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M5.0 | 269 km | Oct 27, 09:07 UTC | 95 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| M4.9 | 271 km | Oct 22, 19:06 UTC | 104 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.