M4.5 earthquake near Blenheim, Marlborough

What happened

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck 50 km SE of Witherlea, New Zealand on 17 Dec 2024, 04:39 UTC at a depth of 25 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Light. Widely felt nearby; objects may shake or fall. Significant damage is unusual. This was a shallow earthquake, which tends to be felt more strongly at the surface.

The nearest town in our records is Blenheim, about 51 km away in Marlborough, New Zealand.