M4.9 earthquake — Kermadec Islands, New Zealand

An magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on Jul 22, 2026 at 15:45 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 35 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 | M4.9 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 35.0 km |
| Coordinates | -29.412, -177.001 |
| Time | Jul 22, 15:45 UTC |
| Location | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
| USGS event ID | us7000t2gx |
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.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.0 | 43 km | Jul 31, 06:30 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
| M4.6 | 94 km | Jul 31, 02:07 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
| M5.0 | 105 km | Jul 30, 20:26 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
| M5.0 | 116 km | Jul 31, 04:02 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
| M4.6 | 158 km | Jul 31, 04:16 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.