M4.4 Earthquake 16 km NE of Patea, New Zealand — December 19, 2024
2024-12-19 22:18:01 UTC (2024-12-19) · approx. 10:18 AM UTC+12 local
On December 19, 2024 at 22:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 16 km NE of Patea, New Zealand, at a depth of 109.5 km and coordinates -39.6595°, 174.6192°.
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
174.6192°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Patea, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 16 km NE of Patea, New Zealand on December 19, 2024 at 22:18 UTC had a depth of 109.5 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: us7000p069). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 19, 2024). M4.4 Earthquake 16 km NE of Patea, New Zealand — December 19, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000p069/