M4.5 earthquake — 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga on Sep 20, 2026 at 15:33 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 513 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 | 513.3 km |
| Coordinates | -20.373, -177.862 |
| Time | Sep 20, 15:33 UTC |
| Location | 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us7000tis4 |
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 | 130 km | Sep 20, 06:30 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.4 | 137 km | Sep 21, 20:53 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.2 | 180 km | Sep 21, 17:22 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.8 | 259 km | Sep 22, 20:11 UTC | 26 km NW of Houma, Tonga |
| M4.2 | 277 km | Sep 21, 07:35 UTC | 245 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.