Back to map
M3.4 Depth: 11.9 km

M3.4 Earthquake near SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-09-16 03:55:26 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.4 earthquake was recorded near SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand) on September 16, 2025 at 03:55 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 12 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. New Zealand: 5 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M3.4
Depth
11.9 km
UTC time
2025-09-16 03:55:26 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
Canterbury
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-42.35050, 173.74940
Temperature
14.7°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 11.9 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 11.9 km
Shallow
11.9 km
11.9 km — shallower than the regional average (69.9 km)
Regional average: 69.9 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 340 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 374 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 389 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 436 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

Open history map
Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · New Zealand

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

Share