M4.5 earthquake — 284 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 284 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand on Jul 17, 2026 at 19:30 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 15 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 15.3 km |
| Coordinates | -48.261, 165.456 |
| Time | Jul 17, 19:30 UTC |
| Location | 284 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand |
| USGS event ID | us7000t1gb |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.