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M3.1 Depth: 5.0 km

M3.1 Earthquake near SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-05-17 17:40:51 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.1 earthquake was recorded near SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand) on May 17, 2025 at 17:40 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 5 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: 3 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M3.1
Depth
5.0 km
UTC time
2025-05-17 17:40:51 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-42.19990, 173.52350
Temperature
19.9°C

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 (69.9 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

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 326 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 368 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 382 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 430 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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