M4.4 Earthquake 162 km NE of Opotiki, New Zealand — March 6, 2021
2021-03-06 22:39:45 UTC (2021-03-06) · approx. 10:39 AM UTC+12 local
On March 6, 2021 at 22:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 162 km NE of Opotiki, New Zealand, at a depth of 34.3 km and coordinates -37.1478°, 178.7714°.
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.
Earthquake Details
178.7714°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Opotiki, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 162 km NE of Opotiki, New Zealand on March 6, 2021 at 22:39 UTC had a depth of 34.3 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ditl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 6, 2021). M4.4 Earthquake 162 km NE of Opotiki, New Zealand — March 6, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ditl/