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M3.4 Depth: 30.9 km

M3.4 Earthquake near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-08-18 20:20:11 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On August 18, 2026 at 20:20 UTC, a magnitude M3.4 earthquake occurred near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 31 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC.

Details

Magnitude
M3.4
Depth
30.9 km
UTC time
2026-08-18 20:20:11 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Bay of Plenty
City
Bay of Plenty
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-37.77530, 177.56360
Temperature
6.2°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 30.9 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 30.9 km
Shallow
30.9 km
30.9 km — shallower than the regional average (70.3 km)
Regional average: 70.3 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

  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 44 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 102 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 128 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand
  • Clark
    Distance: 150 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -860 m ·New Zealand
  • Tangaroa
    Distance: 167 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -600 m ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 184 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

Open history map
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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