M6.3 earthquake near New Plymouth, Taranaki Region

What happened

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 63 km S of Opunake, New Zealand on 3 Jul 2012, 10:36 UTC at a depth of 230 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is New Plymouth, about 110 km away in Taranaki Region, New Zealand.