M4.4 Earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand — May 31, 2023
2023-05-31 20:02:05 UTC (2023-05-31) · approx. 8:02 AM UTC-12 local
On May 31, 2023 at 20:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, at a depth of 52.1 km and coordinates -29.3497°, -177.3314°.
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.
Earthquake Details
-177.3314°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on May 31, 2023 at 20:02 UTC had a depth of 52.1 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k5cq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 31, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand — May 31, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k5cq/