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M3.1 Depth: 5.0 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Waimakariri District, Canterbury (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-07-24 15:53:18 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On July 24, 2026 at 15:53 UTC, a magnitude M3.1 earthquake occurred near Waimakariri District, Canterbury (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 5 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 4 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.5.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 5 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 5 km
Shallow
5 km
5 km — shallower than the regional average (70.1 km)
Regional average: 70.1 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: 463 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·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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