M5.1 earthquake near Whakatane, Bay of Plenty
2497 d ago · 15 Dec 2019, 09:52 UTC 49 km NNE of Whakatane, New Zealand
What happened
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck 49 km NNE of Whakatane, New Zealand on 15 Dec 2019, 09:52 UTC at a depth of 151 km.
Earthquakes of this size are classed as Moderate. Can damage poorly built structures close to the epicentre. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.
The nearest town in our records is Whakatane, about 50 km away in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
Timeline
First reported by USGS
16 Oct 2026, 20:47 UTC
Community
Did you feel it?
Nearby in the last 30 days
- 5.3
M5.3 earthquake - 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand
286 km deepgreen alert
Strong - 4.3
M4.3 earthquake near Whakatane, Bay of Plenty
67 km deep
Moderate - 5.0
M5.0 earthquake - 6 km E of Inglewood, New Zealand
10 km deep
Strong - 4.7
M4.7 earthquake - 149 km NE of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
10 km deep
Moderate - 4.7
M4.7 earthquake - 156 km NNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
218 km deep
Moderate