Real-time earthquake monitor ·
USGS data
This strong M6.1 earthquake was a shallow-focus event, striking at 36 km beneath Hihifo, Tonga. Strong earthquakes at this magnitude are widely felt across a broad region and can cause moderate to heavy damage to vulnerable structures near the epicenter.
At 36 km depth, this falls within the shallow-focus category. The relatively near-surface location means shaking at the epicenter may be more intense than deeper events of comparable magnitude.