M6.0 earthquake - 82 km NW of Pangai, Tonga
10878 d ago · 3 Jan 1997, 03:58 UTC 82 km NW of Pangai, Tonga
What happened
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck 82 km NW of Pangai, Tonga on 3 Jan 1997, 03:58 UTC at a depth of 140 km.
Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. 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 215 km away in Tongatapu, Tonga.
Timeline
First reported by USGS
16 Oct 2026, 20:46 UTC
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