M6.6 Earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — 24 July 2025
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.6 was recorded near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna on , with an epicentre 167 km south-southeast of Mata-Utu, at a focal depth of 324.0 km.
Time (UTC): 2025-07-24 23:37:55
Time (your timezone): —
Magnitude: 6.6 (strong)
Focal depth: 324.0 km (deep)
Epicentre: -14.7470, -175.7860
Location: 167 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna
USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available
Review status: Reviewed
Source: USGS event page
How strong was this earthquake?
Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake radiates roughly 119,787 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 670, which meets the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.
What the magnitude scale actually measures →
When it happened locally
That is about 11:54 local solar time at the epicentre, during the morning.
Where was the epicentre?
The epicentre was located at -14.7470, -175.7860 — 167 km south-southeast of Mata-Utu. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 6.6 earthquake 10 km southeast of here on 24 July 2025.
The nearest other settlements in our records are Hihifo (289 km southeast) and Alo (304 km southwest).
Why the 324 km depth matters
At 324 km this was a deep-focus earthquake, occurring well inside the subducting slab rather than in the crust. Deep events are rarely damaging even at large magnitudes, though they can be felt over very long distances.
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its deep focus normally weakens surface shaking while spreading perceptible motion over a broad area.
Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →
What does the tsunami information flag mean?
The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.
How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →
Aftershocks and local seismic history
1 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 6.6.
61 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.6 event near Mata-Utu on 24 July 2025. This M6.6 event released a comparable amount of energy to that event.
2 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 0 of them in the past 30 days.
How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →
Where this event sits in the record
This earthquake is part of the July 2025 worldwide record. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.
Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre
- M6.6 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — (10 km SE)
- M4.7 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — (33 km SE)
- M5.7 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga — (68 km S)
- M5.1 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — (79 km SW)
- M4.2 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga — (87 km SSW)
- M4.9 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga — (92 km S)
- M4.5 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga — (109 km ESE)
- M4.6 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga — (114 km SE)
- M4.5 earthquake near Hihifo, Tonga — (118 km ESE)
- M5.6 earthquake near Alo, Wallis and Futuna — (119 km WNW)
Other magnitude 6 earthquakes worldwide
- M6.5 earthquake near Teluknaga, Indonesia —
- M6.3 earthquake near Nikolski, United States —
- M6.7 earthquake near Scotia Sea —
- M6.7 earthquake near Aniso, Peru —
- M6.3 earthquake near south of the Kermadec Islands —
- M6.3 earthquake near Sarangani, Philippines —
- M6.8 earthquake near Uto, Japan —
- M6.7 earthquake near southeast of the Loyalty Islands —
Questions about this earthquake
How strong was the earthquake near Mata-Utu?
It measured magnitude 6.6 — a strong earthquake. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake radiates roughly 119,787 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
How deep was the earthquake near Mata-Utu?
The focus was 324 km below the surface, which counts as deep.
Was the Mata-Utu earthquake felt at the surface?
At magnitude 6.6 and a focal depth of 324 km, the depth spreads the energy out, so shaking is weaker overhead but reaches further.
When did the earthquake near Mata-Utu happen?
24 July 2025 at 23:37 UTC.
Was there a tsunami?
The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.
Have there been aftershocks?
1 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 6.6.
How often do earthquakes happen near Mata-Utu?
61 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.6 event near Mata-Utu on 24 July 2025. This M6.6 event released a comparable amount of energy to that event.