Tonga earthquakes in 1956
9 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or more were located in Tonga in 1956. The largest: M7.0 south of Tonga, Jan 9, 1956.
From the USGS catalog. Times are local to each quake.
Map
Where every quake of 1956 was located in Tonga. Select one for its page.
Every quake of 1956
Magnitude 4.5 and up, newest first.
- 6.2126 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga · 15 km deep
- 6.3123 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga · 49 km deep
- 6.077 km SE of Pangai, Tonga · 15 km deep
- 6.390 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga · 45 km deep
- 5.8115 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga · 25 km deep
- 5.8south of Tonga · 15 km deep
- 6.592 km N of Hihifo, Tonga · 35 km deep
- 6.0south of Tonga · 15 km deep
- 7.0south of Tonga · 35 km deep
Month by month
Counted by UTC date, which is how the catalog files them.
| Month | Quakes | Largest | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1956 | 2 | 7.0 | south of Tonga |
| February 1956 | 0 | ||
| March 1956 | 2 | 6.5 | 92 km N of Hihifo, Tonga |
| April 1956 | 0 | ||
| May 1956 | 2 | 6.3 | 90 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga |
| June 1956 | 0 | ||
| July 1956 | 0 | ||
| August 1956 | 0 | ||
| September 1956 | 0 | ||
| October 1956 | 1 | 6.0 | 77 km SE of Pangai, Tonga |
| November 1956 | 1 | 6.3 | 123 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga |
| December 1956 | 1 | 6.2 | 126 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga |
What this means
The catalog is only as complete as the instruments of the time. Worldwide coverage of magnitude 5 and up dates from the 1960s, and of 4.5 from the 1990s; earlier years hold the large quakes and the ones near a station, so a low count in an early year means fewer instruments, not a quiet earth.
By year
Every year the USGS catalog covers.
- 2020s2020202120222023202420252026
- 2010s2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
- 2000s2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
- 1990s1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
- 1980s1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
- 1970s1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
- 1960s1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
- 1950s1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
- 1940s1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
- 1930s1930193119321933193419351936193719381939
- 1920s1920192119221923192419251926192719281929
- 1910s1910191119121913191419151916191719181919
- 1900s1900190119021903190419051906190719081909
Nearby
Sources
Earthquakes, magnitudes, depths, shaking estimates and felt reports from the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, read from its live feeds and its catalog back to 1900. Tsunami messages from NOAA’s tsunami warning centers.