M4.5 earthquake — 271 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga

An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 271 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga on Aug 2, 2026 at 06:15 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 | -23.442, -176.308 |
| Time | Aug 2, 06:15 UTC |
| Location | 271 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000timv |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.3 | 143 km | Aug 2, 10:34 UTC | 265 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga |
| M5.1 | 170 km | Aug 4, 14:56 UTC | south of Tonga |
| M4.6 | 214 km | Aug 5, 20:59 UTC | 99 km WSW of Houma, Tonga |
| M5.0 | 214 km | Aug 2, 15:35 UTC | south of Tonga |
| M4.6 | 273 km | Aug 6, 06:44 UTC | 40 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.