Tonga earthquakes

M4.6 earthquake 6 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck 6 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga on Tue, May 21, 1985, 5:02 AM GMT-11 (16:02 UTC), 33 km (21 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M6.7 Tonga. This one was a foreshock.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
4.6 (mb), light
Local time
UTC
1985-05-21 16:02:28 UTC
Depth
33.0 km (20.5 mi), shallow
Epicenter
15.897° S, 173.776° 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.

Depth from
OPERATOR_ASSIGNED

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.6 and up: 6 in the 60 days after this one and 3 in the 30 days before it.

After

  1. 6.7Tonga · 15086 days ago · 33 km deep · 73 km away
  2. 4.398 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga · 15084 days ago · 33 km deep · 92 km away
  3. 5.291 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga · 15083 days ago · 33 km deep · 86 km away
  4. 5.180 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga · 15077 days ago · 33 km deep · 87 km away
  5. 4.863 km ESE of Hihifo, Tonga · 15070 days ago · 33 km deep · 64 km away
  6. 4.650 km SSE of Hihifo, Tonga · 15059 days ago · 33 km deep · 56 km away

Before

  1. 4.8Tonga · 15113 days ago · 76 km deep · 67 km away
  2. 4.669 km E of Hihifo, Tonga · 15120 days ago · 33 km deep · 69 km away
  3. 5.635 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga · 15123 days ago · 81 km deep · 31 km away

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0002f20. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 6:24 AM UTC.