M4.6 Earthquake 8 km S of Rotorua, New Zealand — February 20, 2022
2022-02-20 21:10:41 UTC (2022-02-20) · approx. 9:10 AM UTC+12 local
On February 20, 2022 at 21:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 8 km S of Rotorua, New Zealand, at a depth of 160.5 km and coordinates -38.2103°, 176.2336°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
Earthquake Details
176.2336°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Rotorua, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 8 km S of Rotorua, New Zealand on February 20, 2022 at 21:10 UTC had a depth of 160.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -38.2103°, 176.2336°, which is 8 km S of Rotorua, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gmi1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, February 20, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake 8 km S of Rotorua, New Zealand — February 20, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gmi1/