July 8, 1843 Earthquake: Wanganui, New Zealand
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Wanganui, New Zealand on July 8, 1843 at 05:05 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- July 8, 1843
- Time
- 05:05 UTC
- Place
- Wanganui, New Zealand
- Magnitude
- 7.5 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 39.900° S, 175.000° E
- Country
- New Zealand
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1843, July 8, 05:05 UTC. 39.9 S, 175 E. (reference #4109)
1843, July 8. Wanganui, magnitude 7.5. (reference #1002)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 2, 1931, Hawke Bay, New Zealand
- July 5, 1845, N. New Zealand
- September 8, 1991, Wellington, Wanganui, New Zealand
- March 5, 1934, North Island, New Zealand
- May 13, 1990, Dannevirke, Wellington, New Zealand
- January 20, 2014, Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
- March 2, 1956, North Island, New Zealand
- October 5, 1980, Gisborne, Hawera, Eastbourne, Napier, New Zealand
- February 21, 1973, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
- November 30, 2022, Taupo, New Zealand
- January 20, 2005, North Island, New Zealand
- August 18, 1895, Taupo, New Zealand
- January 23, 1855, Wellington,waiouru,wanganui,otaki, New Zealand
- August 25, 2008, North Island, New Zealand
- October 15, 1848, Northern New Zealand
More
Significant earthquakes of 1843The 1800sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 1851.