4.4

M4.4 Earthquake south of the Kermadec IslandsDecember 25, 2021

2021-12-25 18:55:01 UTC (2021-12-25) · approx. 6:55 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time18:55 UTC6:55 AM UTC-12
Depth150.7 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-32.877°, -179.716°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 25, 2021 at 18:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands, at a depth of 150.7 km and coordinates -32.8769°, -179.7161°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -32.88°, -179.72°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
150.7 km
intermediate depth
Location
-32.8769°N
-179.7161°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000g9lc
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Azimuthal Gap
110.0°
Min Station Distance
3.918°
RMS Residual
1.11 sec
Last Updated
2022-03-05 23:11:02 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake south of the Kermadec Islands?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck south of the Kermadec Islands on December 25, 2021 at 18:55 UTC had a depth of 150.7 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000g9lc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 25, 2021). M4.4 Earthquake south of the Kermadec IslandsDecember 25, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000g9lc/