USGS · October 15, 2026
Magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Tokoroa, New Zealand
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was recorded near 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand on Oct 15, 2026, 06:25 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13), at a depth of about 286.0 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 8 people · community intensity III (weak)Shaking IIIPAGER GreenIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-15 07:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.3 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 15, 2026, 06:25 PM — UTC+13
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-15 05:25 UTC
- Depth
- 286.0 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -38.548, 175.381
- Felt reports
- Felt by 8 people · community intensity III (weak)
- Estimated shaking
- III · Weak
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 434 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 51 seismic stations used · 58° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
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
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Estimated instrumental shaking III (Weak): Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
People who reported it described intensity III (Weak): Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 4,890 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 430,087 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Te Kuiti | 29.9 km NW | 4,890 |
| Taumarunui | 38.2 km SSW | 4,950 |
| Otorohanga | 43.5 km NNW | 3,280 |
| Tokoroa | 54.9 km NE | 14,500 |
| Kihikihi | 57.3 km N | 3,760 |
| Acacia Bay | 59.0 km ESE | 1,870 |
| Te Awamutu | 60.2 km N | 14,000 |
| Turangi | 61.6 km SE | 3,960 |
| Taupo | 62.8 km ESE | 27,000 |
| Pirongia | 62.9 km NNW | 1,360 |
Earthquake history in this area
10 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in New Zealand.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
17 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.0 15 km ESE of Oropi, New Zealand
M 4.1 13 km N of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.1 30 km S of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.1 39 km W of Stratford, New Zealand
M 3.4 19 km NNW of Raglan, New Zealand
M 3.5 1 km ENE of Kaharoa, New Zealand
M 3.3 39 km NE of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.1 14 km WNW of Putaruru, New Zealand
M 3.4 27 km E of Acacia Bay, New Zealand
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 5.3 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 286.0 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Oct 15, 2026, 06:25 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13). In universal time: 2026-10-15 05:25 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 8 people · community intensity III (weak). Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Te Kuiti, 29.9 km NW (population 4,890).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.5 (6 km WNW of Edgecumbe, New Zealand, 1987), and 17 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), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.