Magnitude
M3.0
- Depth
- 28.4 km
- Source
- EMSC
Canterbury · Kaikōura District
Country overviewNew Zealand · Canterbury
M3.0 Earthquake near Kaikōura District, Canterbury (New Zealand)
Map
About this earthquake
On March 24, 2026 at 18:54 UTC, a magnitude M3.0 earthquake occurred near Kaikōura District, Canterbury (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 28 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 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
ID
3d4e7627486ef02a46e54aa1acf2d94d0b45a0f1
Magnitude
M3.0
Depth
28.4 km
UTC time
2026-03-24 18:54:29 UTC
Local time
—
Country
State
City
County
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-42.20430,
173.86610
Temperature
16.2°C
Depth profile
Shallow
28.4 km
28.4 km — shallower than the regional average (70.9 km)
Regional average: 70.9 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
New Zealand
Context for this earthquake
05 Oct 2025 – 05 Oct 2026 · M ≥ 3.0 · 725 Catalogue entries
Sufficiently reliable matching data are not currently available for a direct comparison. The area profile shows the available records and their limitations.
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Country statistics · New Zealand
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Stats (last 24h)
Global (24h)
611
Country (24h)
New Zealand
5
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