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M4.5 Depth: 10.0 km

M4.5 Earthquake near Tuatapere Te Waewae Community, Southland (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-02-16 13:16:47 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M4.5 earthquake was recorded near Tuatapere Te Waewae Community, Southland (New Zealand) on February 16, 2026 at 13:16 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 10 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Tremors of this size are distinctly felt and can occasionally cause light damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 6 earthquakes, the strongest at M4.3.

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Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 10 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 10 km
Shallow
10 km
10 km — shallower than the regional average (70 km)
Regional average: 70 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

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