M5.4 Earthquake 69 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia — September 25, 2026
2026-09-25 23:52:35 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 10:52 AM UTC+11 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.2 (moderate). Aftershock of the M5.5 mainshock.
On September 25, 2026 at 23:52 UTC, a magnitude 5.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 69 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -21.2023°, 168.4346°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 29 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 449, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 3.2 km — 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 5.5 mainshock that occurred 1 hour ago 61 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 4 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 1,644 |
| MMI 4 | light | 5,097 |
Earthquake Details
168.4346°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Tadine, New Caledonia?
The magnitude 5.4 earthquake that struck 69 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia on September 25, 2026 at 23:52 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -21.2023°, 168.4346°, which is 69 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.4 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.5 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred earlier 61 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000txqk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 25, 2026). M5.4 Earthquake 69 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia — September 25, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000txqk/