Deep M5.5 earthquake strikes Kermadec Islands region
An earthquake of magnitude M5.5 struck the Kermadec Islands region at 08:52 UTC on October 30, 2025. The event occurred at a depth of 313.1 km (194.6 miles). The location was determined based on coordinates 27.4°S, 178.4°W, situating the epicenter within the Kermadec Islands seismic zone.
The Kermadec Islands are an uninhabited island arc in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand’s North Island. This remote region is known for significant seismic activity due to its tectonic setting along the Pacific Plate boundary.
With no major population centers or critical infrastructure such as airports, ports, or highways in close proximity, the potential for direct human or infrastructural impact was minimal.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity was II, and the significance index is 465 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.
The Kermadec Islands region is situated along the convergent boundary between the Pacific Plate and Indo-Australian Plate, which is recognized for frequent intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes. The area is part of the broader Pacific “Ring of Fire,” characterized by high seismicity.
This information was last updated at 09:15 UTC on October 30, 2025.