M4.6 Earthquake near off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand — October 2, 2024
2024-10-02 21:05:40 UTC (2024-10-02) · approx. 9:05 AM UTC+12 local
On October 2, 2024 at 21:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck near off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -35.0252°, 179.7830°. This earthquake was detected by 25 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
Earthquake Details
179.7830°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck near off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand on October 2, 2024 at 21:05 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -35.0252°, 179.7830°, which is near off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000nw66). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 2, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake near off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand — October 2, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000nw66/