EMSC · August 19, 2026
Magnitude 3.4 earthquake — 36 km SW of Opotiki, New Zealand
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was recorded near 36 km SW of Opotiki, New Zealand on Aug 19, 2026, 08:20 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12), at a depth of about 30.9 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 08:46 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.4 · m
- Location
- 36 km SW of Opotiki, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 19, 2026, 08:20 AM — UTC+12
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-18 20:20 UTC
- Depth
- 30.9 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- -37.775, 177.564
- 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 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 42,907 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Opotiki | 35.6 km SW | 4,900 |
| Ohope Beach | 48.2 km WSW | 3,250 |
| Whakatane | 54.7 km WSW | 18,602 |
| Taneatua | 57.9 km SW | 1,497 |
| Awakeri | 63.4 km WSW | 2,289 |
| Hicks Bay | 67.7 km ENE | 1,389 |
| Edgecumbe | 68.1 km WSW | 1,900 |
| Kawerau | 83.9 km WSW | 7,670 |
| Maketu | 97.9 km W | 1,410 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in New Zealand.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
23 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.4 31 km SW of Opotiki, New Zealand
M 4.5 109 km NW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
M 4.3 17 km N of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
M 3.1 59 km SW of Mangapapa, New Zealand
M 3.0 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
M 3.1 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
M 3.5 29 km SSW of Mangapapa, New Zealand
M 3.2 55 km S of Whakatane, New Zealand
M 3.0 59 km SSW of Ohope Beach, New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 36 km SW of Opotiki, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 3.4 (m), at a depth of 30.9 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 19, 2026, 08:20 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12). In universal time: 2026-08-18 20:20 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 Opotiki, 35.6 km SW (population 4,900).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.3 (182 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand, 2021), and 23 further events were recorded within 100 km 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.