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M6.0 Depth: 133.0 km

M6.0 Earthquake near Tonga Islands

UTC time: 2026-03-08 09:28:26 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On March 8, 2026 at 09:28 UTC, a magnitude M6.0 earthquake occurred near Tonga Islands. At around 133 km, the focal depth places this among intermediate-depth events. Events of this size are considered strong and can be dangerous in inhabited regions.

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

Details

Magnitude
M6.0
Depth
133.0 km
UTC time
2026-03-08 09:28:26 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
gfz
Coordinates
-16.10000, -173.86000
Temperature
28.3°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 133 km (Intermediate) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 133 km
Intermediate
133 km
Why depth matters

Intermediate-depth quakes are felt across a wider area but usually cause less surface damage.

Depth classes per USGS

Nearby population centers

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

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Apia337.8 kmNE40'407

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Tafahi
    Distance: 30 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 546 m ·Tonga
  • Curacoa
    Distance: 57 km ·Complex ·Elevation: -33 m ·Last eruption: 1979 ·Tonga
  • Niuatahi
    Distance: 83 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: -1'270 m ·Tonga
  • Tafu-Maka
    Distance: 90 km ·Fissure vent ·Elevation: -1'400 m ·Last eruption: 2008 ·Tonga
  • West Mata
    Distance: 112 km ·Fissure vent(s) ·Elevation: -1'174 m ·Last eruption: 2009 ·Tonga
  • Niuafo'ou
    Distance: 197 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 260 m ·Last eruption: 1946 ·Tonga

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 250 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours1
First 24 hours1
First 72 hours1
Strongest subsequent eventM6.3
M5.62026-03-08 09:28:28 UTC25.2 kmEvent of magnitude 5.6, near of Nouméa (Monde) M5.12026-03-11 15:10:48 UTC102.4 kmSamoa Islands Region M4.32026-03-20 16:17:50 UTC120.7 kmTonga Islands M6.22026-03-22 06:15:36 UTC118.1 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) SW (az= 234.7) from San Miguel Is., CA M5.42026-03-22 06:15:38 UTC155.5 kmEvent of magnitude 5.4, near of Nouméa (Monde) M6.32026-03-22 06:15:47 UTC126.7 kmTonga [Sea] M6.22026-03-22 15:27:56 UTC177.8 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) SW (az= 234.4) from San Miguel Is., CA M6.12026-03-22 15:27:57 UTC113.4 kmTonga Islands M5.32026-03-22 15:27:58 UTC165.3 kmEvent of magnitude 5.3, near of Nouméa (Monde) M6.32026-03-22 15:28:08 UTC120.1 kmTonga [Sea] M6.32026-03-22 15:30:40 UTC110.5 kmTonga Islands M5.12026-03-22 15:31:04 UTC97.2 kmEvent of magnitude 5.1, near of Nouméa (Monde)

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 250 km.

Magnitude rank#2
Earlier events M≥4151
Earlier events M≥561
Compared since2025-01-03

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

Strongest earlier events

M6.62025-07-24 23:37:56 UTC245.3 km176 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna M5.82025-11-14 19:09:07 UTC227.5 kmTonga [Sea] M5.72026-02-10 21:14:44 UTC127.2 kmSamoa Islands Region M5.72025-11-28 03:30:09 UTC130.6 kmTonga Islands M5.72025-11-14 19:09:04 UTC213.3 km

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
573
Country (24h)
—
—
Current earthquakes in
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