Shallow M6.1 earthquake hits Kermadec Islands region
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit the Kermadec Islands region at 14:28 UTC on May 31, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).
Epicenter of M6.1 earthquake in Kermadec Islands region on May 31, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 770 km (478 miles) SSW of ‘Ohonua and 1 152 km (716 miles) NE of Whangarei, New Zealand.
There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are reinforced masonry and unreinforced brick with timber floor construction.
The Kermadec Islands region lies along the active boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, making it a notable zone for frequent seismic events and subduction-related earthquakes.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.1 earthquake Kermadec Islands – USGS – May 31, 2025
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
