M5.1 earthquake 72 km ENE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck 72 km ENE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga on Tue, May 16, 2006, 1:53 PM GMT+13 (00:53 UTC), 34 km (21 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M6.0 99 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga. This one was a foreshock.

Map

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

The USGS’s account of the effects of this earthquake.

no people dead or missing; no people injured; no buildings damaged or destroyed

From the USGS event page for usp000eh7m. U.S. Geological Survey text and figures are in the public domain.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

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

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.1 and up: 43 in the 60 days after this one and 76 in the 30 days before it.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp000eh7m. Read Mon, Oct 5, 2026, 6:55 AM UTC.