M5.0 Earthquake south of the Kermadec Islands — April 13, 2025
2025-04-13 21:23:58 UTC (2025-04-13) · approx. 9:23 AM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On April 13, 2025 at 21:23 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -32.9274°, -178.2863°. This earthquake was detected by 34 seismic stations with good 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 10 days ago south of the Kermadec Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-178.2863°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake south of the Kermadec Islands?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck south of the Kermadec Islands on April 13, 2025 at 21:23 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -32.9274°, -178.2863°, which is south of the Kermadec Islands.
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 M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier south of the Kermadec Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pvkh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 13, 2025). M5.0 Earthquake south of the Kermadec Islands — April 13, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pvkh/