M 5.4 Earthquake Recorded 183 km Southwest of Houma, Tonga

What Happened

A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 mww was recorded on February 23, 2026, at 08:45:47 UTC (9:45 PM local time in Tonga). The seismic event occurred approximately 183 kilometers southwest of Houma, Tonga.

Location Details

The earthquake’s epicenter was located at coordinates 22.1346°S and 176.7387°W. The event originated at a depth of 174.6 kilometers. This is classified as a deep earthquake, as it occurred more than 70 kilometers below the surface. Deep earthquakes are generally felt over a wide area but typically cause less damage at the surface than shallower quakes of the same magnitude.

Impact Assessment

According to the USGS, there is no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning currently in effect for this event. The maximum estimated intensity was recorded at 3.028 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, which corresponds to weak shaking. No felt reports have been submitted to the USGS at this time, and no alert level color has been assigned.

What You Should Know

A magnitude 5.4 event is categorized as a moderate earthquake. While earthquakes of this size can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings if they occur at shallow depths, the significant depth of this event likely mitigated surface impact. Residents are advised to be aware of the potential for aftershocks, although deep-seated earthquakes often result in fewer detectable aftershocks than shallow ones.

Source

Information provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.