M3.1 Depth: 46.4 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-08-22 20:03:56 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.1 earthquake was recorded near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand) on August 22, 2026 at 20:03 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 46 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC.

Details

Magnitude
M3.1
Depth
46.4 km
UTC time
2026-08-22 20:03:56 UTC
Local time
Country
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-37.27880, 176.08540
Temperature
11.7°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 46.4 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 46.4 km
Shallow
46.4 km
46.4 km — shallower than the regional average (70.5 km)
Regional average: 70.5 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

  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 15 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 100 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 104 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Auckland Volcanic Field
    Distance: 121 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 260 m ·Last eruption: 1446 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 168 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Clark
    Distance: 181 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -860 m ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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

View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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