M5.0 Depth: 61.8 km

M5.0 Earthquake near SOUTH OF TONGA

UTC time: 2025-08-23 00:43:45 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M5.0 earthquake was recorded near SOUTH OF TONGA on August 23, 2025 at 00:43 UTC. With a focal depth of about 62 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Events of this size can cause damage near the epicenter.

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

Details

Magnitude

M5.0

Depth

61.8 km

UTC time

2025-08-23 00:43:45 UTC

Local time

—

Country

—

Source

emsc

Coordinates

-24.65570, -176.00750

Temperature

18.5°C

Map

Depth profile

Shallow

61.8 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

Nuku'alofa399.9 kmN22'400

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

Kermadec Arc at 24.8°S

Distance: 104 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -385 m ·Tonga
Monowai

Distance: 181 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -132 m ·Last eruption: 2014 ·New Zealand
Tofua Arc at 21.3°S

Distance: 371 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -68 m ·Last eruption: 1932 ·Tonga
Tofua Arc at 21.1°S

Distance: 391 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -65 m ·Tonga
Tofua Arc at 20.9°S

Distance: 426 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -296 m ·Last eruption: 2017 ·Tonga
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai

Distance: 461 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 114 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Tonga

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 150 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours0

First 24 hours0

First 72 hours0

Strongest subsequent eventM5.2

M5.22025-08-27 00:10:38 UTC43.5 kmsouth of Tonga M5.02025-09-03 22:56:13 UTC136.3 km246 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga M5.02025-09-05 13:58:49 UTC120.8 kmSOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#23

Earlier events M≥442

Earlier events M≥527

Compared since2025-01-12

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

Strongest earlier events

M6.02025-08-23 00:11:01 UTC88.7 kmSouth of Tonga Islands [Sea: Tonga] M6.02025-02-07 10:26:59 UTC83.2 kmsouth of the Fiji Islands M5.72025-08-18 23:03:12 UTC84.8 kmSouth of Tonga Islands [Sea: Tonga] M5.72025-08-16 22:52:05 UTC72.7 kmSouth of Tonga Islands M5.62025-08-18 23:03:12 UTC10.3 kmSOUTH OF TONGA

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)

685

Country (24h)

—

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