M4.2 Earthquake 160 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand — March 7, 2025
2025-03-07 16:00:25 UTC (2025-03-07) · approx. 3:00 AM UTC+11 local
On March 7, 2025 at 16:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 160 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -46.0210°, 165.8407°.
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.
Earthquake Details
165.8407°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 160 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand on March 7, 2025 at 16:00 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pxez). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 7, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 160 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand — March 7, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pxez/