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M3.1 Depth: 5.0 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-05-18 02:17:42 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On May 18, 2026 at 02:17 UTC, a magnitude M3.1 earthquake occurred near Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago (New Zealand). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 5 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks.

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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 (70.4 km)
Regional average: 70.4 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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