On January 9, 2024, at 10:41 AM (Tongatapu Time), an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 struck under the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 175 kilometers off the coast of Tonga. The earthquake occurred at a very shallow depth of 10 kilometers, making it potentially impactful, as shallow earthquakes tend to have a larger effect.
Key Details:
Location: 242 km ENE of Nuku‘alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga.
Coordinates: 20°2’15″S 173°11’29″W.
Depth: 10 km (6 mi), classified as a very shallow depth.
Magnitude: 5.3, detected by 49 stations.
Maximum Error Range: ±0.085.
Low tsunami risk, as earthquakes under magnitude 6.5 usually do not cause tsunamis.
The earthquake may have been felt in Tonga, with Nuku‘alofa being the nearest significant population center, located 242 kilometers southwest of the epicenter.
Two smaller aftershocks were detected: a 4.9 magnitude earthquake 16 hours later, 21 km south-southwest of the main shock, and a 4.7 magnitude earthquake at the same time, 69 km west of the main shock.
Earthquake Frequency
Earthquakes of this strength are common in the region, with the last similar event occurring on December 24, 2023 (magnitude 5.4). This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. With a magnitude of 5.3, it is unlikely to trigger a tsunami, but the shallow depth could potentially contribute to sea level changes. The information is based on available data as of January 9, 2024, and will be updated up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.