Latest earthquakes near Tongatapu, Tonga today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Tongatapu, Tonga, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Tongatapu? If an earthquake is happening right now near Tongatapu, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Tongatapu Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Tongatapu. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Tongatapu and elsewhere.
Mar 24, 2026 06:22PM
Significant M5.1 AFTERSHOCK hit in the South Pacific Ocean 300km from Nuku‘alofa (Tonga) on Tuesday Evening.
Mar 24, 2026 05:37PM
On Tuesday Afternoon an Unusually powerful M7.5 Earthquake struck in the South Pacific Ocean 283km from Nuku‘alofa (Tonga).
Feb 1, 2026 09:59AM
On Sunday Morning a Shallow M5.8 Earthquake struck in the South Pacific Ocean 118km from Nuku‘alofa (Tonga).
Tongatapu Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 3064 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Tongatapu, Tonga in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 306 earthquakes per year, or 25 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Tongatapu roughly every 1 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Tongatapu in 2022. A total of 430 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Tongatapu that year. The strongest had a 6.2 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Tongatapu in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Tongatapu during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.
| Magnitude | Earthquakes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mag. 4 | 2605 | 85.02% |
| Mag. 5 | 424 | 13.84% |
| Mag. 6 | 32 | 1.04% |
| Mag. 7 | 3 | 0.1% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Tongatapu
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Tongatapu occurred on Mar 24, 2026 17:37 local time (Pacific/Tongatapu timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.5 and struck 283 kilometers (176 mi) north of Nuku‘alofa, at a depth of 234 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Tongatapu in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-8 earthquake struck on May 4, 2006 04:26, 154 kilometers (96 mi) north of Nuku‘alofa. It is the strongest earthquake near Tongatapu in the past 126 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Tongatapu, Tonga in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from Tongatapu.
Earthquakes by city in Tongatapu
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Tongatapu, Tonga.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Tongatapu.
When was the last earthquake in Tongatapu, Tonga?
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit near Tongatapu on the afternoon of April 17, 2026 at 12:38 local time (Pacific/Tongatapu). The center of this earthquake was located 281km north of Nuku‘alofa at a depth of 220km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Tongatapu, Tonga in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Tongatapu, Tonga?
A 8 magnitude earthquake hit near Tongatapu on the night of May 4, 2006 at 04:26 local time (Pacific/Tongatapu). The center of this earthquake was located 154km north-east of Nuku‘alofa at a depth of 55km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Tongatapu since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Tongatapu, Tonga?
In the past 10 years, 3064 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Tongatapu. This averages to 306 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 1 days.
