M7.8 earthquake - 192 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga
10594 d ago · 14 Oct 1997, 09:53 UTC 192 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga
What happened
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 192 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga on 14 Oct 1997, 09:53 UTC at a depth of 167 km.
Earthquakes of this size are classed as Major. Can cause serious damage over large areas. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.
The nearest town in our records is Nuku‘alofa, about 195 km away in Tongatapu, Tonga.
Timeline
First reported by USGS
16 Oct 2026, 20:46 UTC
Community
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