Magnitude 4.5 earthquake strikes south of the Kermadec Islands

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands at 20:23:42.595 UTC on July 19, 2026. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the seismic event at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Its epicenter was located at coordinates -32.8884 latitude and -178.6181 longitude.

The magnitude of an earthquake indicates the size of the seismic waves recorded by a seismograph. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake is considered a light event on the Richter scale. The depth of an earthquake refers to how far below the Earth's surface the rupture occurred.

The USGS continuously monitors and reports on earthquakes globally, providing essential data on their magnitude, location, and depth. This information is critical for understanding seismic activity and the Earth's geological processes.