M5.6 earthquake — Kermadec Islands region
A moderate magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred Kermadec Islands region on Jul 21, 2026 at 12:14 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 | M5.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -29.512, -176.995 |
| Time | Jul 21, 12:14 UTC |
| Location | Kermadec Islands region |
| USGS event ID | us7000t25y |
What this magnitude typically means
Moderate earthquakes are widely felt and can cause light damage close to the epicenter. The shaking you actually experience depends on how far away you are and what kind of ground you are on. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.9 | 13 km | Jul 22, 20:07 UTC | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
| M4.8 | 15 km | Jul 22, 15:45 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
| M4.9 | 40 km | Jul 22, 15:39 UTC | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
| M4.9 | 55 km | Jul 25, 21:39 UTC | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
| M5.0 | 91 km | Jul 22, 21:03 UTC | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
| M5.1 | 96 km | Jul 29, 03:30 UTC | Kermadec Islands region |
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.