Magnitude 4.6 earthquake strikes 91 km ESE of Hihifo, Tonga

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck 91 kilometers east-southeast of Hihifo, Tonga, at 09:48:03.957 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on July 19, 2026. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the seismic event occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Its epicenter was located at geographic coordinates -16.3454 latitude and -173.038 longitude.

The USGS, a scientific agency of the United States government, monitors and reports on earthquakes globally. They determine earthquake magnitudes by analyzing seismic waves recorded by instruments worldwide, a process that allows for accurate assessment of the energy released during such events. Depth measurements indicate how far below the Earth's surface the seismic rupture occurred.