M7.8 Earthquake — 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga

A magnitude 7.8 (major) earthquake struck 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga on 1950-12-14 01:52 UTC, at a depth of 216 km. See it live on Earth Live's real-time 3D globe.

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Source: USGS event page. The TNT equivalent is computed from the magnitude with the standard Gutenberg–Richter energy relation; all other figures are USGS's own.

This area's earthquake history

In the year before this quake, USGS recorded 2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 300 km.

Strongest recorded within 300 km since 1900:

• M8.2 — 2018 Fiji Earthquake · 2018-08-19
• M8.0 — Tonga · 1903-01-04
• M8.0 — 2006 Tonga Earthquake · 2006-05-03

More recent earthquakes

• M4.9 — Volcano Islands, Japan region
• M4.8 — 191 km ESE of Sarangani, Philippines
• M5.0 — 71 km E of ‘Ohonua, Tonga
• M4.5 — Kuril Islands
• M5.3 — central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• M4.8 — 32 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan
• M5.0 — 295 km S of Burica, Panama
• M4.6 — 110 km S of Dampit, Indonesia

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