M5.7 earthquake strikes Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
An earthquake measuring M5.7 was recorded at 19:24 UTC on March 31, 2026, in the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand. The quake occurred at a depth of 143.4 km (89.1 miles), based on the latest data from USGS.
The coordinates place the epicenter near -30.3°S, 178.8°W within the Kermadec island arc, a remote and sparsely populated region northeast of New Zealand’s North Island. No significant population centers are located near the epicenter.
Given the remote offshore location of the Kermadec Islands, the primary infrastructure in this region consists of maritime shipping routes and limited scientific research installations, with no major airports or ports in the immediate vicinity.
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 is IV, and the significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude and estimated impact.
The Kermadec Islands region lies along the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, a highly active seismic area where the Pacific plate is subducting beneath the Indo-Australian plate, making it prone to frequent moderate and strong earthquakes.
This information was last updated at 19:51 UTC on March 31, 2026.