M4.6 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — July 31, 2026
2026-07-31 02:07:56 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 2:07 PM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On July 31, 2026 at 02:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 45.0 km and coordinates -28.5632°, -176.9647°. 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 7 hours ago in the Kermadec Islands region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 3 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-176.9647°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on July 31, 2026 at 02:07 UTC had a depth of 45.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -28.5632°, -176.9647°, which is in the Kermadec Islands region.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Kermadec Islands region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000th54). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 31, 2026). M4.6 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000th54/