4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 69 km W of Foxton Beach, New ZealandMarch 14, 2025

2025-03-14 21:47:47 UTC (2025-03-14) · approx. 9:47 AM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:47 UTC9:47 AM UTC+12
Depth89.7 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-40.415°, 174.407°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 14, 2025 at 21:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 69 km W of Foxton Beach, New Zealand, at a depth of 89.7 km and coordinates -40.4147°, 174.4068°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -40.41°, 174.41°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
89.7 km
intermediate depth
Location
-40.4147°N
174.4068°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pyxi
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
23
Azimuthal Gap
79.0°
Min Station Distance
0.921°
RMS Residual
0.59 sec
Last Updated
2025-05-17 19:19:58 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Foxton Beach, New Zealand?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 69 km W of Foxton Beach, New Zealand on March 14, 2025 at 21:47 UTC had a depth of 89.7 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pyxi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 14, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 69 km W of Foxton Beach, New ZealandMarch 14, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pyxi/