M3.3 Depth: 5.0 km

M3.3 Earthquake near Westland District, West Coast (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-05-24 17:42:06 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

On May 24, 2026 at 17:42 UTC, a magnitude M3.3 earthquake occurred near Westland District, West Coast (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 5 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 8 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.8.

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 (69.2 km)
Regional average: 69.2 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: 488 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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Country statistics · New Zealand

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

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