M4.5 earthquake — Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on Oct 18, 2026 at 12:42 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 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 | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -30.127, -177.384 |
| Time | Oct 18, 12:42 UTC |
| Location | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
| USGS event ID | us6000u35l |
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.