M 4.8 in Tonga on 20 Jan 2019 23:08 UTC

Hazard models

EQ parameters
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 4.8M
Depth: 118.02 Km
Lat/Lon: -20.6496 , -174.6194
Event Date: 20 Jan 2019 23:08 UTC
21 Jan 2019 12:08 Local
Exposed Population:
About 87000 people within 100km
Source: NEIC us2000j6pu
Inserted at: 21 Jan 2019 02:26 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score
4.6 (Tonga)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake GDACS score
NEIC 0 0
us2000j6pu Scaled population (vector) 4.1  
  C1 earthquake 1  
  C2 earthquake 0  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 0.94  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1245656 0 20 Jan 2019 23:08 4.7M, 127.16km N/A 90 thousand (in 100km) 00:25 NEIC
1245662 0 20 Jan 2019 23:08 4.8M, 118.02km N/A 90 thousand (in 100km) 03:17 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Tonga , of Tonga (population 98,000) . The nearest places are and Nuku'alofa.

Radius Population
100 km 88000 people
75 km 5700 people
50 km <1000 people
20 km no people
10 km no people
5 km no people
2 km no people

Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Tonga Tonga 98000 people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Nuku'alofa Tonga Capital 24000 people 82 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Fua'amotu International TBU 38 Civ. Paved Yes 8700 85 km
Eua Kaufana EUA unknown 0 88 km

Ports

Name LOCODE Country Distance
Nuku'alofa TOTBU Tonga 81 km
Eua Island Tonga 85 km
Pangai TOPAN Tonga 98 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.