Moderate M5.7 earthquake strikes southwest of Hihifo, Tonga on July 1, 2026

An earthquake registering M5.7 was recorded at 21:13 UTC on July 1, 2026, about 153 km (95 miles) southwest of Hihifo, Tonga. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 265.9 km (165.2 miles), according to United States Geological Survey (USGS) data.

The event’s epicenter was located at coordinates 16.9°S, 174.8°W, positioning it southwest of Tonga’s main islands, in a seismically active region of the southwest Pacific. The area is part of the northern Tonga Trench, well-known for frequent deep and intermediate-depth earthquakes, but population density in the immediate vicinity is low.

While the quake’s depth and offshore location mean limited risk to inland settlements, critical infrastructure in the wider region includes maritime routes and inter-island communications, though direct threat was likely minimized due to the depth and distance from major population centers.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

The significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The Tonga region is situated near the convergent boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate, an area known for one of the world’s most active subduction zones and frequent moderate-to-large seismic events, including deep-focus earthquakes.

This information was last updated at 21:31 UTC on July 1, 2026.