M4.2 earthquake — 266 km W of Houma, Tonga
An magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred 266 km W of Houma, Tonga on Aug 30, 2026 at 22:51 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 408 km — a deep earthquake. Deep quakes can be felt over very large distances but usually cause less surface damage than shallow ones.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.2 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 408.4 km |
| Coordinates | -21.288, -177.870 |
| Time | Aug 30, 22:51 UTC |
| Location | 266 km W of Houma, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us7000td13 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.4 | 82 km | Aug 28, 10:38 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.8 | 99 km | Sep 1, 01:29 UTC | 292 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
| M4.9 | 103 km | Aug 27, 23:02 UTC | 264 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
| M4.0 | 197 km | Aug 28, 16:15 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.2 | 220 km | Aug 29, 08:23 UTC | south of the Fiji Islands |
Earthquake activity in this area
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Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.