Magnitude 5 earthquake strikes south of the Kermadec Islands

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 20:44:19 GMT. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the shallow earthquake with a depth of 10 kilometers. Its epicenter was located at coordinates -32.759 latitude and -178.0878 longitude.

The USGS, a scientific agency of the United States government, routinely monitors and reports on seismic activity globally. Their measurements, like this one for magnitude and depth, are derived from data collected by a worldwide network of seismograph stations. These instruments detect the ground motion caused by earthquakes, allowing scientists to pinpoint their precise location, time, and intensity.