M4.9 Earthquake 151 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand — January 15, 2022
2022-01-15 03:21:15 UTC (2022-01-15) · approx. 3:21 PM UTC+12 local
On January 15, 2022 at 03:21 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 151 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -37.8771°, 179.4218°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in New Zealand, a region characterized by the Hikurangi subduction zone in the North Island and the Alpine Fault in the South Island. The nearest mapped fault system is the Alpine Fault. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
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 | 3,938 |
Earthquake Details
179.4218°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Gisborne, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 151 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand on January 15, 2022 at 03:21 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -37.8771°, 179.4218°, which is 151 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has New Zealand had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in New Zealand was the M8.2 Wairarapa earthquake of January 23, 1855. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gc6c). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, January 15, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 151 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand — January 15, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gc6c/