The quake hit at a shallow depth of 10 km beneath the epicenter near Neiafu, Vava‘u, Tonga, early evening on Saturday 5 December 2020 at 7.43 pm local time.
The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which listed it as a magnitude 5.5 earthquake as well.