M4.2 Earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand — August 16, 2025
2025-08-16 16:32:25 UTC (2025-08-16) · approx. 4:32 AM UTC-12 local
On August 16, 2025 at 16:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, at a depth of 168.5 km and coordinates -30.3420°, -178.6068°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-178.6068°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on August 16, 2025 at 16:32 UTC had a depth of 168.5 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qv8v). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, August 16, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand — August 16, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qv8v/