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M5.0 Depth: 10.0 km

M5.0 Earthquake near Tonga Islands

UTC time: 2026-05-16 06:28:36 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M5.0 earthquake was recorded near Tonga Islands on May 16, 2026 at 06:28 UTC. With a focal depth of about 10 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude can damage poorly built structures.

The data is provided by ISC and cross-checked across seismological networks.

Details

Magnitude
M5.0
Depth
10.0 km
UTC time
2026-05-16 06:28:36 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
isc
Coordinates
-15.39500, -174.74300
Temperature
27.8°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 10 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 10 km
Shallow
10 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Mata-Utu281.1 kmNW1'200

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Tafu-Maka
    Distance: 55 km ·Fissure vent ·Elevation: -1'400 m ·Last eruption: 2008 ·Tonga
  • Niuatahi
    Distance: 79 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: -1'270 m ·Tonga
  • Niuafo'ou
    Distance: 98 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 260 m ·Last eruption: 1946 ·Tonga
  • Dugong
    Distance: 105 km ·Shield ·Elevation: -1'170 m ·Tonga
  • West Mata
    Distance: 111 km ·Fissure vent(s) ·Elevation: -1'174 m ·Last eruption: 2009 ·Tonga
  • Curacoa
    Distance: 118 km ·Complex ·Elevation: -33 m ·Last eruption: 1979 ·Tonga

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#37
Earlier events M≥476
Earlier events M≥541
Compared since2025-01-08

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M6.62025-07-24 23:37:57 UTC130.2 km M6.62025-07-24 23:37:56 UTC123.2 km176 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna M6.62025-07-24 23:37:55 UTC133.2 km167 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna M6.62025-07-24 23:37:55 UTC134.3 km165 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna M6.12026-04-19 17:34:49 UTC111.6 kmTonga Islands

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
592
Country (24h)
—
—
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