USGS · October 20, 2026
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was recorded near 88 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga on Oct 20, 2026, 07:27 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13), at a depth of about 156.8 km, according to USGS.
USGSIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-19 20:15 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 4.8 · body-wave magnitude
- Location
- 88 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 20, 2026, 07:27 AM — UTC+13
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-19 18:27 UTC
- Depth
- 156.8 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -15.673, -174.570
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 354 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 67 seismic stations used · 56° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 301 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Hihifo | 88.5 km ESE | 301 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
4 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 88 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 88 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga earthquake?
Magnitude 4.8 (body-wave magnitude), at a depth of 156.8 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Oct 20, 2026, 07:27 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13). In universal time: 2026-10-19 18:27 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Small earthquakes usually pass unnoticed except very close to the epicentre.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Hihifo, 88.5 km ESE (population 301).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.7 (133 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga, 1981), and 4 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.