M7.8 earthquake - 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga
27700 d ago · 14 Dec 1950, 01:52 UTC 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga
What happened
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga on 14 Dec 1950, 01:52 UTC at a depth of 216 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 173 km away in Tongatapu, Tonga.
Timeline
First reported by USGS
16 Oct 2026, 20:46 UTC
Community
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