M4.2 Earthquake 38 km NE of Castlepoint, New Zealand — October 19, 2026
2026-10-19 17:27:57 UTC (4 days ago) · approx. 5:27 AM UTC+12 local
On October 19, 2026 at 17:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 38 km NE of Castlepoint, New Zealand, at a depth of 23.6 km and coordinates -40.6194°, 176.4911°.
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
176.4911°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Castlepoint, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 38 km NE of Castlepoint, New Zealand on October 19, 2026 at 17:27 UTC had a depth of 23.6 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 4.2 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: us6000u3fp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 19, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 38 km NE of Castlepoint, New Zealand — October 19, 2026. Retrieved October 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u3fp/