M4.6 earthquake — 88 km ENE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga

An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 88 km ENE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga on Aug 16, 2026 at 07:18 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 | M4.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -19.453, -173.544 |
| Time | Aug 16, 07:18 UTC |
| Location | 88 km ENE of Fangale’ounga, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000tmgp |
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 | 126 km | Sep 8, 11:51 UTC | 26 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga |
| M4.9 | 237 km | Sep 8, 21:57 UTC | 211 km ENE of Neiafu, Tonga |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.