M4.8 earthquake — 44 km NNE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga
An magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred 44 km NNE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga on Sep 29, 2026 at 16:12 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 | M4.8 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -19.371, -174.182 |
| Time | Sep 29, 16:12 UTC |
| Location | 44 km NNE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000tycv |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.4 | 146 km | Sep 29, 12:40 UTC | 99 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga |
| M4.8 | 224 km | Sep 22, 20:11 UTC | 26 km NW of Houma, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.