September 29, 2003 Earthquake: Christchurch, New Zealand
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand on September 29, 2003 at 18:22:32 UTC, 32 km below the surface.
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
- September 29, 2003
- Time
- 18:22:32 UTC
- Place
- Christchurch, New Zealand
- Magnitude
- 4.8 (mb)
- Focal depth
- 32 km (20 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 43.340° S, 173.040° E
- Country
- New Zealand
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Minor damage in the Christchurch area. Felt throughout northern Canterbury and in Marlborough. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 21, 2011, Christchurch, Lyttelton, New Zealand
- June 16, 1929, South Island, New Zealand
- November 13, 2016, Amberley, New Zealand
- June 13, 2011, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand
- December 23, 2011, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
- December 25, 1922, SE. New Zealand
- December 25, 2010, Christchurch, New Zealand
- September 7, 2010, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand
- September 6, 2010, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
- September 3, 2010, Christchurch, New Zealand
- June 18, 1994, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
- September 28, 1970, New Zealand
More
Significant earthquakes of 2003The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2003Recent 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 5727.