M4.2 Earthquake 50 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand — March 2, 2024
2024-03-02 18:00:54 UTC (2024-03-02) · approx. 5:00 AM UTC+11 local
On March 2, 2024 at 18:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 50 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand, at a depth of 103.2 km and coordinates -44.9922°, 167.5036°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred 24 days ago 42 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 3 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 3 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
167.5036°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Te Anau, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 50 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand on March 2, 2024 at 18:00 UTC had a depth of 103.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 42 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mgcd). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 2, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 50 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand — March 2, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mgcd/