M4.6 earthquake — 99 km WSW of Houma, Tonga
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 99 km WSW of Houma, Tonga on Aug 5, 2026 at 20:59 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 137 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 | M4.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 137.2 km |
| Coordinates | -21.517, -176.189 |
| Time | Aug 5, 20:59 UTC |
| Location | 99 km WSW of Houma, Tonga |
| USGS event ID | us6000tiex |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.4 | 239 km | Aug 1, 22:29 UTC | Fiji region |
| M5.3 | 278 km | Aug 2, 10:34 UTC | 265 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga |
| M4.5 | 283 km | Jul 31, 07:32 UTC | Fiji region |
| M4.3 | 286 km | Aug 3, 01:35 UTC | Fiji region |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.