M4.5 earthquake — 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on Aug 18, 2026 at 16:48 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 | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 408.0 km |
| Coordinates | -20.022, -177.705 |
| Time | Aug 18, 16:48 UTC |
| Location | 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000tn5y |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | 81 km | Sep 9, 18:19 UTC | 295 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
| M5.0 | 142 km | Sep 3, 18:31 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.5 | 160 km | Sep 3, 07:46 UTC | 122 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
| M4.5 | 247 km | Sep 6, 21:08 UTC | 235 km E of Levuka, Fiji |
Earthquake activity in this area
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Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.