Moderate M 5.0 Earthquake Strikes Kermadec Islands Region

What Happened

A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 mb was recorded in the Kermadec Islands region. The seismic event occurred on February 25, 2026, at 15:51:35 UTC. The earthquake was measured at a depth of 313.5 km.

Location Details

The earthquake was centered at coordinates 31.2259°S and 179.7053°W in the Kermadec Islands region. At a depth of 313.5 km, this event is classified as a deep earthquake. Deep earthquakes—those occurring at depths greater than 70 km—are typically felt over a broader geographic area but result in less intense shaking at the surface compared to shallow events.

Impact Assessment

There are currently no felt reports associated with this event in the USGS database. According to the source data, no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning has been issued (tsunami: 0). No specific alert level color has been assigned to this earthquake.

What You Should Know

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake is categorized as a “moderate earthquake.” While earthquakes in the 5.0-5.9 range can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings, the extreme depth of this event (313.5 km) significantly reduces the likelihood of surface damage. As with any seismic event, aftershocks are a possibility, and residents in the region should remain aware of safety protocols.

Source

Information for this report was provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.