M4.4 Earthquake 34 km SE of Witherlea, New Zealand — May 16, 2026
2026-05-16 06:34:13 UTC (18 hours ago) · approx. 6:34 PM UTC+12 local
On May 16, 2026 at 06:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 34 km SE of Witherlea, New Zealand, at a depth of 20.6 km and coordinates -41.7640°, 174.2287°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response 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
174.2287°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Witherlea, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 34 km SE of Witherlea, New Zealand on May 16, 2026 at 06:34 UTC had a depth of 20.6 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sy5t). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 16, 2026). M4.4 Earthquake 34 km SE of Witherlea, New Zealand — May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sy5t/