4.4

M4.4 Earthquake east of the North Island of New ZealandMay 4, 2022

2022-05-04 21:32:38 UTC (2022-05-04) · approx. 9:32 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time21:32 UTC9:32 AM UTC-12
Depth38.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-35.127°, -179.899°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 4, 2022 at 21:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck east of the North Island of New Zealand, at a depth of 38.2 km and coordinates -35.1266°, -179.8994°.

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 -35.13°, -179.90°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
38.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
-35.1266°N
-179.8994°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000h74q
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
16
Azimuthal Gap
132.0°
Min Station Distance
2.829°
RMS Residual
0.64 sec
Last Updated
2022-07-09 21:39:59 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake east of the North Island of New Zealand?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck east of the North Island of New Zealand on May 4, 2022 at 21:32 UTC had a depth of 38.2 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: us7000h74q). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 4, 2022). M4.4 Earthquake east of the North Island of New ZealandMay 4, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000h74q/