M7.8 earthquake 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga on Thu, Dec 14, 1950, 2:12 PM GMT+12:20 (01:52 UTC), 216 km (134 mi) below the surface.
Map
Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Magnitude
- 7.8 (mw), major
- Local time
- UTC
- 1950-12-14 01:52:54 UTC
- Depth
- 215.9 km (134.2 mi), intermediate-depth
- Epicenter
- 19.705° S, 175.874° W
- Region
- Tonga
- Tsunami flag
- No
- Status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
Did you feel it?
No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.
How well it is located
Reviewed by a seismologist.
- Magnitude uncertainty
- ±0.40
- Depth from
- From location
Nearest places
Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.
Nearby
Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 0 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.
None recorded.
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Sources
From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem896185. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 3:12 AM UTC.