On Thursday Evening a Significant M5.3 Earthquake struck near Hamilton in New Zealand.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on October 15th, 2026. Last updated November 7th, 2026.

Under land 89 kilometer from Hamilton in New Zealand, a significant MAG-5.3 earthquake occurred in the evening of Thursday October 15th, 2026. Around 660 thousand people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in New Zealand, 89 kilometer (55 mi) south of Hamilton in Waikato. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 284 km.

Date and Time:	Oct 15, 2026 18:25 (Auckland Time) - Oct 15, 2026 05:25 Universal Time.
Location:	89 km south of Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand. Coordinates 38°34'42"S 175°22'54"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.3 Detected by 15 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.08 .
Depth:	284 km (176 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	III Weak On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 95% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 660 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 660 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 54,970 people were exposed to level III. At this level, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. Intensity level II was experienced by the majority of people (around 600 thousand). In their region, very weak shaking and no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of New Zealand .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
2,840	I	Not noticable	None
603,700	II	Very weak	None
54,970	III	Weak	Probably none
0	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in New Zealand . Located 62 kilometer (39 mi) west of the epicenter of this earthquake, Taupo (Waikato, New Zealand) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Taupo is estimated to be around level II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (very weak shaking, no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Auckland is located 200 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low). Hamilton is located 89 km to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Manukau City is located 182 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
62 km (39 mi) E from epicenter	Taupo Waikato, New Zealand.	II Weak
78 km (48 mi) N from epicenter	Cambridge Waikato, New Zealand.	II Weak
89 km (55 mi) N from epicenter	Hamilton Waikato, New Zealand.	III Weak
90 km (56 mi) NE from epicenter	Rotorua Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.	II Weak
121 km (75 mi) NE from epicenter	Tauranga Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.	II Weak
125 km (78 mi) SW from epicenter	New Plymouth Taranaki, New Zealand.
153 km (95 mi) S from epicenter	Whanganui Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.
156 km (97 mi) NE from epicenter	Whakatane Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
158 km (98 mi) N from epicenter	Pukekohe East Auckland, New Zealand.
165 km (103 mi) SE from epicenter	Taradale Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
167 km (104 mi) SE from epicenter	Napier Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
173 km (107 mi) N from epicenter	Papakura Auckland, New Zealand.
173 km (107 mi) SE from epicenter	Hastings Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
179 km (111 mi) N from epicenter	Manurewa Auckland, New Zealand.
182 km (113 mi) N from epicenter	Manukau City Auckland, New Zealand.
185 km (115 mi) N from epicenter	Papatoetoe Auckland, New Zealand.
186 km (116 mi) N from epicenter	Mangere Auckland, New Zealand.
187 km (116 mi) N from epicenter	Otara Auckland, New Zealand.
188 km (117 mi) N from epicenter	Otahuhu Auckland, New Zealand.
196 km (122 mi) N from epicenter	New Lynn Auckland, New Zealand.
196 km (122 mi) N from epicenter	Remuera Auckland, New Zealand.
198 km (123 mi) N from epicenter	Avondale Auckland, New Zealand.
199 km (124 mi) S from epicenter	Palmerston North Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.
200 km (124 mi) N from epicenter	Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
204 km (127 mi) S from epicenter	Linton Military Camp Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.
205 km (127 mi) N from epicenter	North Shore Auckland, New Zealand.
228 km (142 mi) E from epicenter	Gisborne Gisborne, New Zealand.
229 km (142 mi) S from epicenter	Levin Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.
262 km (163 mi) S from epicenter	Paraparaumu Wellington, New Zealand.
266 km (165 mi) S from epicenter	Masterton Wellington, New Zealand.
286 km (178 mi) S from epicenter	Upper Hutt Wellington, New Zealand.
288 km (179 mi) S from epicenter	Porirua Wellington, New Zealand.
296 km (184 mi) S from epicenter	Lower Hutt Wellington, New Zealand.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is III.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 9 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 9 people have reported shaking in 6 places, all within New Zealand.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand: 3 people.
Kapiti, Wellington, New Zealand: 2 people.
North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand: 1 person.
Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand: 1 person.
Otaki, Wellington, New Zealand: 1 person.
Picton, Marlborough, New Zealand: 1 person.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 80 km (49 mi) north-east of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 days later. It measured a magnitude of 3.3

Before this earthquake struck, 2 smaller foreshocks occurred. A 3.5 magnitude earthquake hit 3 days earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 3.5	3 days earlier Oct 13, 2026 04:14 (Auckland Time)	80 km (49 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.9	3 days earlier Oct 13, 2026 04:19 (Auckland Time)	98 km (61 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.3	Oct 15, 2026 18:25 (Auckland Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.3	2 days later Oct 18, 2026 04:06 (Auckland Time)	80 km (49 mi) NE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since August 2nd, 2026, when a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit 267 km (166 mi) further north-east. An even stronger magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck on October 30th, 2018.

In total, 17 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.3 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 7 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 284 km (176 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 07/11/26 02:28 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.