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M3.8 Depth: 17.3 km

M3.8 Earthquake near Wellington (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-07-15 11:55:42 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On July 15, 2026 at 11:55 UTC, a magnitude M3.8 earthquake occurred near Wellington (New Zealand). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 17 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: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 6 earthquakes, the strongest at M4.3.

Details

Magnitude
M3.8
Depth
17.3 km
UTC time
2026-07-15 11:55:42 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Wellington
City
Wellington
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-41.42240, 175.76200
Temperature
14.0°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 17.3 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 17.3 km
Shallow
17.3 km
17.3 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

  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 239 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 252 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 276 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 294 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 369 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 451 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·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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