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M4.5 Depth: 27.5 km

M4.5 Earthquake near 38 km NNE of Castlepoint, New Zealand (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-12-03 22:47:13 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M4.5 earthquake was recorded near 38 km NNE of Castlepoint, New Zealand (New Zealand) on December 3, 2025 at 22:47 UTC. With a focal depth of about 28 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Tremors of this size are distinctly felt and can occasionally cause light damage.

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

Details

Magnitude
M4.5
Depth
27.5 km
UTC time
2025-12-03 22:47:13 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
Manawatū-Whanganui
Source
usgs
Coordinates
-40.56530, 176.35350
Temperature
16.5°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 27.5 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 27.5 km
Shallow
27.5 km
27.5 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

  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 158 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 168 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 202 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 240 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 268 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 346 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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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.

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