M5.0 Earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand — September 17, 2022
2022-09-17 00:06:59 UTC (2022-09-17) · approx. 12:06 PM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.8 mainshock.
On September 17, 2022 at 00:06 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -30.0560°, -177.9025°. This earthquake was detected by 69 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.8 mainshock that occurred 9 days ago near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
-177.9025°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on September 17, 2022 at 00:06 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -30.0560°, -177.9025°, which is near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.8 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.8 mainshock that occurred earlier near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000i8py). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, September 17, 2022). M5.0 Earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand — September 17, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i8py/