Shallow M5.8 earthquake hits offshore Tonga
A shallow earthquake measuring M5.8 was recorded at 06:02 UTC on March 23, 2026, approximately 112 km (70 miles) northeast of Hihifo, Tonga. The event struck at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), based on data provided by the USGS.
The coordinates place the epicenter offshore Tonga, near the northern edge of the Tonga archipelago, at approximately 15.4°S, 172.9°W. The nearest significant settlement is Hihifo, situated on the island of Niuatoputapu, with the broader region consisting of scattered islands in the South Pacific.
Given the offshore location and the region’s geography, critical infrastructure that could be affected includes marine transport routes, small local harbors, and inter-island communication systems.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
The maximum estimated intensity for this event is IV, while the significance index stands at 518 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.
Tonga lies along the Tonga Trench, a convergent plate boundary where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Indo-Australian Plate. This zone is among the most seismically active in the world, producing frequent moderate to strong earthquakes.
This information was last updated at 06:28 UTC on March 23, 2026.