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M3.1 Depth: 12.9 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Gisborne (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-08-27 12:32:32 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.1 earthquake was recorded near Gisborne (New Zealand) on August 27, 2026 at 12:32 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 13 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. 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 M3.5.

Details

Magnitude
M3.1
Depth
12.9 km
UTC time
2026-08-27 12:32:32 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Gisborne
City
Gisborne
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-38.21080, 178.41610
Temperature
13.6°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 12.9 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 12.9 km
Shallow
12.9 km
12.9 km — shallower than the regional average (69.3 km)
Regional average: 69.3 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

  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 133 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 167 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Clark
    Distance: 203 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -860 m ·New Zealand
  • Tangaroa
    Distance: 213 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -600 m ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 217 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 229 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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