EMSC · August 17, 2026
Magnitude 3.5 earthquake — 22 km SE of Taihape, New Zealand
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded near 22 km SE of Taihape, New Zealand on Aug 17, 2026, 09:19 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12), at a depth of about 7.0 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-03 22:16 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.5 · m
- Location
- 22 km SE of Taihape, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 17, 2026, 09:19 PM — UTC+12
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-17 09:19 UTC
- Depth
- 7.0 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- -39.538, 175.618
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- EMSC (Centro Sismológico Euromediterráneo)
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Who lives nearby
About 7,550 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 243,655 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Taihape | 21.9 km SE | 1,810 |
| Ohakune | 23.6 km NW | 1,570 |
| Aotea | 28.2 km WSW | 4,170 |
| Raetihi | 31.7 km WNW | 1,130 |
| Jerusalem | 47.3 km W | 1,155 |
| Marton | 62.5 km SSW | 5,740 |
| Turangi | 63.1 km NNE | 3,960 |
| Whanganui | 65.4 km SW | 49,200 |
| Bulls | 73.5 km SSW | 2,150 |
| Taumarunui | 79.6 km NNW | 4,950 |
Earthquake history in this area
No earthquake of magnitude 4.5+ has been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in New Zealand.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
6 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 22 km SE of Taihape, New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 22 km SE of Taihape, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 3.5 (m), at a depth of 7.0 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 17, 2026, 09:19 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12). In universal time: 2026-08-17 09:19 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Small earthquakes usually pass unnoticed except very close to the epicentre.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Taihape, 21.9 km SE (population 1,810).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
6 further events were recorded within 100 km of the epicentre in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.