A significant M5.2 earthquake struck in the South Pacific Ocean 117 kilometer from Nuku‘alofa, Tonga in the evening of Thursday April 23rd, 2026.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the South Pacific Ocean, 106 kilometers (66 mi) off the coast of Tonga, 117 kilometer west of Nuku‘alofa in Tongatapu. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 207 km.
| Date and Time: | Apr 23, 2026 07:31PM (Tongatapu Time) - Apr 23, 2026 06:31 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 117 km west of Nuku‘alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga. Coordinates 20°46'56"S 176°15'37"W. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.2 Detected by 13 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.086 . |
| Depth: | 207 km (128 mi) An intermediate depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 at depths deeper than 100km are very unlikely to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake may have been felt in Tonga . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Nuku‘alofa in Tongatapu, Tonga. Nuku‘alofa is located 117 kilometer (73 mi) west of the epicenter.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 117 km (73 mi) E from epicenter |
Nuku‘alofa Tongatapu, Tonga. |
Risk of aftershocks?
We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this happen often in the region
Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since April 13th, 2026, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 278 km (173 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck on March 24th, 2026.
In total, 211 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 17 days.
Tsunami very unlikely
For a serious tsunami to occur, earthquakes usually need to have a magnitude of at least 6.5 and occur at a shallow depth of maximum 100km. Neither are the case with this earthquake. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 207 km (128 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 23/04/26 11:48 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000ss90
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260423_0000106
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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