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M3.1 Depth: 52.1 km

M3.1 Earthquake near COOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-01-04 22:40:37 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On January 4, 2026 at 22:40 UTC, a magnitude M3.1 earthquake occurred near COOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 52 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. New Zealand: 3 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.2.

Details

Magnitude
M3.1
Depth
52.1 km
UTC time
2026-01-04 22:40:37 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
Marlborough
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-40.93850, 173.90510
Temperature
21.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 52.1 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 52.1 km
Shallow
52.1 km
52.1 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

Volcanoes nearby

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 183 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 232 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 247 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 294 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 381 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 454 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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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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