Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes Kermadec Islands, New Zealand

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 15:39:22 GMT. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the seismic event at a depth of 35 kilometers. The epicenter was located at coordinates -29.7099 latitude and -177.3364 longitude.

The USGS, a scientific agency of the United States government, monitors and reports on earthquakes globally. They use a network of seismic sensors to determine an earthquake's magnitude, location, depth, and time of occurrence. Magnitude, as reported by the USGS, is a measure of the energy released at the earthquake's source.