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M3.0 Depth: 20.3 km

M3.0 Earthquake near Wellington (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-07-21 18:58:14 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On July 21, 2026 at 18:58 UTC, a magnitude M3.0 earthquake occurred near Wellington (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 20 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: 6 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M3.0
Depth
20.3 km
UTC time
2026-07-21 18:58:14 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Wellington
City
Wellington
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-40.89100, 176.47840
Temperature
10.1°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 20.3 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 20.3 km
Shallow
20.3 km
20.3 km — shallower than the regional average (69.9 km)
Regional average: 69.9 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: 195 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 206 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 240 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 271 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 304 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 380 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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