M4.6 earthquake — 226 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 226 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga on Aug 17, 2026 at 00:25 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 | -23.285, -174.275 |
| Time | Aug 17, 00:25 UTC |
| Location | 226 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000tmj8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.1 | 190 km | Aug 21, 08:12 UTC | south of Tonga |
| M4.8 | 200 km | Aug 18, 11:55 UTC | south of Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.