M4.8 Earthquake 90 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand — March 22, 2024
2024-03-22 10:36:33 UTC (2024-03-22) · approx. 9:36 PM UTC+11 local
Felt by 12 people across nearby locations.
On March 22, 2024 at 10:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 90 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand, at a depth of 7.2 km and coordinates -44.3426°, 167.9632°. This earthquake was detected by 41 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 359, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in New Zealand, a region characterized by the Hikurangi subduction zone in the North Island and the Alpine Fault in the South Island. The nearest mapped fault system is the Alpine Fault. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 12 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
167.9632°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Arthurs Point, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 90 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand on March 22, 2024 at 10:36 UTC had a depth of 7.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -44.3426°, 167.9632°, which is 90 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has New Zealand had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in New Zealand was the M8.2 Wairarapa earthquake of January 23, 1855. Today's magnitude 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mkgs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 22, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake 90 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand — March 22, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mkgs/