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M4.2 Depth: 5.0 km

M4.2 Earthquake near SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-09-20 07:52:38 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M4.2 earthquake was recorded near SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand) on September 20, 2025 at 07:52 UTC. With a focal depth of about 5 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude are clearly felt; minor damage to vulnerable buildings is possible.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 5 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M4.2
Depth
5.0 km
UTC time
2025-09-20 07:52:38 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
West Coast
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-41.38170, 172.29150
Temperature
3.2°C

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 (69.9 km)
Regional average: 69.9 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

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 276 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 363 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 376 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 421 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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