Magnitude 5.9 quake recorded near Te Anau in South Island
Developed over time first seen 1 month ago
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Te Anau, in New Zealand's South Island, according to the US Geological Survey. No reports of injuries, damage or tsunami warnings emerged following the event, and no further significant details were subsequently confirmed by other sources.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 76 kilometres, which is relatively deep for a seismic event of this size. Such depth typically dampens the intensity of shaking felt at the surface compared with shallower quakes of similar magnitude, which is consistent with the absence of reported impact in the area.
- Magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Te Anau, New Zealand
- Quake was relatively deep, at around 76km
- No injuries, damage or tsunami warnings reported
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New Zealand lies on the boundary between two large sections of the Earth’s crust, the Pacific and Australian plates. Their movement makes the country one of the world’s more earthquake-prone places, with tremors occurring regularly across both main islands.
Te Anau is a small town in the south-west of the South Island, near Fiordland National Park. The wider Fiordland region has a history of earthquakes because of its position near the plate boundary, although many occur offshore or in sparsely populated areas.
Earthquakes are measured by magnitude, which describes the energy released, while depth and distance affect how strongly people feel them. A quake well below the surface can cause less damaging shaking than a similar-sized event closer to towns or the seabed.
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Originally published by USGS as “Magnitude 5.9 earthquake — Te Anau, New Zealand”.