Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes 71 km SW of Pangai, Tonga

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck 71 km southwest of Pangai, Tonga, at 17:14:55 GMT on Friday, July 24, 2026. The seismic event occurred at a depth of 50.677 km, centered at coordinates -20.3259 latitude and -174.7728 longitude.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) routinely monitors and reports on earthquake activity globally, using a network of seismograph stations to determine magnitude, location, and depth. Magnitude measures the energy released at the earthquake's source, with 4.9 indicating a moderate event.

This particular earthquake's epicenter places it in a region characterized by active tectonic plate boundaries, a common area for such seismic occurrences.