M4.2 earthquake — 280 km SW of Houma, Tonga
An magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred 280 km SW of Houma, Tonga on Oct 1, 2026 at 04:41 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 247 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 | M4.2 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 247.0 km |
| Coordinates | -22.869, -177.310 |
| Time | Oct 1, 04:41 UTC |
| Location | 280 km SW of Houma, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000typy |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.3 | 184 km | Oct 1, 18:54 UTC | 248 km W of Houma, Tonga |
| M4.7 | 271 km | Sep 28, 12:14 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.5 | 272 km | Sep 27, 23:55 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.4 | 287 km | Sep 28, 22:25 UTC | south of the Fiji Islands |
| M4.4 | 296 km | Oct 1, 02:40 UTC | Fiji region |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.